C. Debray

Inhibition of Gastric Electrical and Mechanical Activity by Intraduodenal Agents in Pigs and the Effects of Vagotomy

Miniature pigs were chronically implanted with gastric electrodes, strain gauge devices allowing the measurement of circular contractions in the antrum and body of the stomach, and with a duodenal catheter through which duodenal infusions were administered. Inhibition of gastric motility by intraduodenal agents was measured before and after truncal vagotomy in conscious animals 20 min after feeding of a normal meal. The agents infused in the duodenum (10 ml/min, 4 min), were: HCl 75 mEq/l(A), glucose 100 g/l(G), olive oil 10% pH 7(L), amino acids (AA) and saline. Before vagotomy, motor activity during the first 5 min was inhibited 50-80% with respect to basal levels; the duration of action was G No. L greater than A; AA had very little effect, and saline no effect. Inhibition was on the whole similar in the antrum and gastric body. After vagotomy, the inhibitory effect of A was reduced from 80 to 20% in the antrum, and completely suppressed in the gastric body. Inhibitory effects of G and L were completely suppressed.

Controlled trial of chenodeoxycholic therapy for radiolucent gallstones. A multicenter study.

134 patients with radiolucent gallstones were randomly allocated to receive either placebo or 1 of 3 different doses of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA); 750, 1,500, or 3,000 mg). The initial dose was lowered if not well tolerated. 107 patients were treated for more than 3 months. Among them, stones dissolved in 21 and were smaller in 25 patients. Partial or complete dissolution occurred in 4 of the 13 receiving 375 mg/day, 14 of 37 receiving 750 mg, 24 of the 38 receiving 1,500 mg and 4 of 8 receiving 3,000 mg/day. The number of responders to the therapy was significantly greater in the groups of patients receiving 1,500 mg/day or 17-24 mg/kg body weight than in any other group. However, side effects, i.e., diarrhea and transaminase increase, are also dose related. It appears from this study that the optimal dose of CDCA may be between 17 and 20 mg/kg body weight.

Effects of Chronic Ethanol Consumption on Pancreatic Response to Central Vagal Stimulation by 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose in the Rat

Male Wistar rats, fed a standard normal laboratory diet, drank ad libitum a 20% ethanol solution for 3 months. Basal and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) stimulated pancreatic secretion were measured. Basal secretion of sodium (-30%, p less than 0.001), bicarbonate (-35%, p less than 0.001) and total protein (-35%, p less than 0.001) were depressed in alcoholic versus control rats. Pancreatic response was identical in both groups with the smaller dose of 2DG, dose related in controls, and identical for both doses in alcohol-fed rats. The response was thus significantly smaller in alcohol-fed rats than in controls for the larger dose of 2DG (p less than 0.01). Pancreatic concentration and contents of amylase, trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen and lipase were all decreased in alcoholic versus control rats (40-60%, p less than 0.001). These results are consistent with the hypothesis of functional modifications in pancreatic cholinergic innervation in alcohol-fed rats.

Quantitative studies in vitro on uptake and esterification of palmitate into human and rat jejunal mucosa.

Quantitative incorporation and esterification of (9-10) 3H palmitate into jejunal mucosa was studied in vitro comparatively on human biopsies and on everted rings of rat intestine following various incubation times. This procedure is fitted for investigation of the glycophosphate pathway. Quantitatively the total uptake of palmitate was similar in man and rat. But the distribution among the various esterified fractions was different in animal and man and different again in coeliac disease. Notwithstanding incorporation of palmitate into triglyceride the fatty acid composition of mucosal triglyceride showed little or no modification.

Independence from Vagal Control of Biliary Secretion in the Rat

The effects on bile secretion of classical stimulants and depressants of the parasympathic system were reinvestigated in the anaesthetized rat. Antimuscarinic drugs and vagotomy did not decrease bile