Effects of hindbrain stimulation on lower esophageal sphincter pressure in the cat

Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was measured in anesthetized cats during electrical stimulation of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and nucleus ambiguus (NA). Stimulation parameters were varied to determine maximal changes in LES pressure and upper gastrointestinal motor responses. LES pressure decreased significantly during DMV and NA stimulation. The LES preferentially was affected over other upper gastrointestinal locations. Bradycardia and increases in blood pressure occurred with stimulation of both nuclei. LES pressure changes could be demonstrated in the absence of other gastrointestinal responses by decreasing hindbrain stimulation parameters. Cervical vagotomy completely eliminated hindbrain stimulation-induced changes in LES pressure, upper gastrointestinal motor activity, and heart rate. Similar frequency-LES pressure response relationships were observed for DMV and NA stimulation, with maximum changes occurring at 25 Hz. Changes in LES pressure occurred at shorter stimulation pulses (0.05 vs. 0.5 ms) and at lower stimulating current strength (30 vs. 60 microA) during DMV as compared with NA stimulation. In addition, stimulation of areas adjacent to the DMV and NA also significantly altered LES pressure, indicating that a large portion of the cat hindbrain associated with the vagal motor nuclei is involved in LES pressure control.