The effect of stellatectomy on gastric acid secretion in the dog

The stellate ganglion is the major contributor of adrenergic fibers to the vagus nerve and stellatectomy causes a degeneration of vagal adrenergic fibers. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of stellatectomy on gastric acid secretion (GAS) and gastrin levels in the dog. GAS in response to pentagastrin stimulation was measured in six gastric fistula dogs before and after stellatectomy. Likewise, blood was collected for basal and meat meal-stimulated serum gastrin levels before and after stellatectomy. After bilateral stellatectomy acid secretion increased in response to submaximal doses of pentagastrin stimulation whereas maximal secretion was unchanged. Resting and meal-stimulated gastrin levels did not change. A Horner's syndrome developed in each dog. It is concluded that bilateral stellatectomy increases GAS in response to submaximal stimulation while not altering gastrin release. These results suggest that the vagal adrenergic innervation of the stomach has an inhibitory role in the control of GAS in the dog.