The effect of clonidine on gastric acid secretion in rats and dogs

The effect of clonidine on gastric acid secretion was investigated using rats and dogs. In the stomach lumen perfused rat basal gastric acid secretion was increased by clonidine in the anaesthetized rat but inhibited in the conscious animal. Clonidine also reduced the basal gastric acid secretion in rats with chronic gastric fistula, (ED50 12 microng/kg p.O.). In addition, gastric secretion stimulated by insulin hypoglycaemia was inhibited by clonidine in anaesthetized stomach lumen perfused rats and in conscious dogs with gastric fistula. In the rat gastric secretion stimulated by electrical vagus stimulation was inhibited as well. However, clonidine had no effect on the gastric acid secretion stimulated by carbachol in stomach lumen perfused rats and in dogs with denervated fundic pouch. These results suggest that the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by clonidine probably is due to an inhibition of acetylcholine release at the vagus nerve endings. Additional central gastric antisecretory effects can, however, not be excluded by this study.