Potentiation between Pentagastrin and Bethanechol Chloride in Stimulation of Gastric Secretion from Isolated ex vivo Canine Stomach Perfused with Homologous Blood

The totally isolated canine stomach, perfused with homologous blood, is able to secrete juice rich in H+ for several hours. This ex vivo preparation was used for the study of secretion stimulated by pentagastrin and/or bethanechol chloride, a stable cholinergic drug. Combinations of pentagastrin plus bethanechol used in this study gave significantly higher outputs of HC1 and pepsin than could be accounted for on the basis of summation of stimulatory effects. True potentiation with regard to acid and pepsin secretion was evident when the cholinergic drug was superimposed on pentagastrin stimulation. It was concluded that potentiation between bethanechol chloride and pentagastrin occurs in the stimulation of secretion from the totally isolated canine stomach perfused by homologous blood. We also studied mechanical activity and myoelectrical activity of isolated stomachs. These activities varied with the changes in stimulation. The mechanical activity markedly increased when cholinergic drug was added to pentagastrin stimulation. Bethanechol chloride appeared to be a very potent stimulant of mechanical activity of the isolated stomach.