Abstract
AIM: To determine the effects of electrical stimulation of nucleus ambiguus (NA) and dorsal motor nuclei of vagus (DMV) on gastric acid and bicarbonate secretion in rats. METHODS: NA and DMV in rats were electrically stimulated. Pylorus ligation or esophagus perfusion was used to collect the gastric secretion. The titratable H(+) quantum, H(+) concentration, HCO(3)(-) secretion quantum were measured. RESULTS: Electrical stimulation of NA had no effects on the volume of gastric juice, titratable acidity and acid concentration, but elicited a pronounced increase in the total bicarbonate. However, electrical stimulation of DMV significantly increased the titratable acidity, the volume of gastric juice and the acid concentration. Similarly, electrical stimulation of either NA or DMV decreased the respiratory frequency and sinus bradycardia. CONCLUSION: NA in rats can not control the secretion of gastric acid but the secretion of bicarbonate in gastric juice, while DMV controls the secretion of gastric acid.