Effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on gastric secretion and mucosal blood flow

The effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db cAMP) on gastric secretion and blood flow were determined in studies on anesthetized and conscious dogs. In 6 experiments on animals under chloralose-urethane anesthesia, gastric secretion, gastric mucosal and left gastroepiploic artery blood flows were measured. In 8 experiments on 4 conscious dogs with gastric fistulas and Heidenhain pouches, gastric secretion and gastric mucosal blood flow were measured in both the stomach and pouch. Gastric secretion was stimulated with intravenous histamine at a dose of 80 microgram/kg-hr for 3 hours, in each of the above experiments. In the second hour db cAMP was infused intravenously at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg-min. In all experiments db cAMP increased gastric mucosal blood flow, but only in the first group of dogs was there an increase in gastric acid secretion. It is concluded that db cAMP at the dose employed, had a vasodilator effect on the gastric mucosa, which does not appear to depend upon the secretory response to the drug.