Reflex stimulation of tracheal mucus gland secretion by gastric irritation in cats

Our aim was to determine whether flow from the submucosal glands of the trachea is reflexly regulated by sensory stimuli from the stomach in the cat, and, if such a gastropulmonary reflex exists, what sensory and motor pathways are important. We found that mechanical stimulation of the gastric mucosa increased submucosal gland secretions from 7.9 +/- 0.7 to 17.4 +/- 1.7 nl/min (mean +/- SE, P less than 0.001). This effect was prevented reversibly by cooling both abdominal vagus nerves to -3 degrees C before stimulation and was restored by rewarming the nerves. The effect was prevented irreversibly by cutting both abdominal vagus nerves and was then mimicked by electrically stimulating the central cut end of one of the nerves. This increase in secretions caused by electrical stimulation of the nerve was prevented by administration of atropine sulfate before stimulation. We conclude that stimuli from the stomach reflexly affect the rate of submucosal gland secretion. The sensory limb of this reflex lies in the abdominal vagus nerves, and the motor pathways are mediated by cholinergic muscarinic receptors.