Tonic suppression of gastric acid secretion by endogenous peptides in neonatal rats. Rao, R. K., S. Pepperl, and F. Porreca. Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724
APStracts 2:0111G, 1995.
Stimulation of gastric acid secretion by secretagogues were measured in developing rats by in vivo and in vitro techniques. Basal acid outputs in vivo were very low in 8 and 14 day rats as compared to those in 20 and 30 day rats. In 20 day rats, all secretagogues increased acid output in vivo, while only carbachol, pentagastrin and CCK8s were active in 14 day rats. In contrast, basal acid output in vitro and stimulation by secretagogues did not differ significantly with age. CCK8s-stimulated acid output in vitro in 14 day rat was blocked by L-365,260, L-364,718, tetrodotoxin and atropine, but not by hexamethonium, while gastrin-stimulated acid output was blocked only by L-365,260. Furthermore, acid output in vivo was elevated 3-4 fold by subcutaneous naloxone-methiodide or L-364,718, but not by L -365,260, in 14 day rats; none of these antagonists produced an effect in 20 day rats. These studies show that low basal gastric acid output in neonatal rats is caused by tonic inhibitory regulation by endogenous regulatory peptides.

Received 17 November 1994; accepted in final form 22 May 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G453-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on  8 June 1995.