Gastric secretory response to intravenous amino acids in eviscerated dogs

Eight dogs, four with intact vagi and four with vagotomy, were studied to see if the gastric secretory effect of intravenously administered L-amino acids is mediated by a gastrointestinal (GI) hormone or hormones. Intravenous infusion of amino acids produced a significant secretory response in denervated and in innervated stomachs. When the known sites of formation of GI hormones were removed by resection of antrum, duodenum, pancreas, jejunum, ileum, and colon, the gastric stimulatory effect of amino acids was not changed significantly in denervated stomachs but was greatly increased in innervated stomachs. We conclude that amino acids have a direct effect on parietal cell secretion that is not dependent on the intermediary release of a stimulatory hormone, and that evisceration enhances this effect in dogs with intact vagi.