Inhibition Of Gastric Acid Secretion By Cholinergic Stimulation Of The Lateral Hypothalamic Area.

Cholinergic stimulation of the lateral hypothalamic area with carbachol (1 microgram in 1 microliter) markedly inhibited gastric acid secretion in the anesthetized rat. Inhibition was blocked by prior micro-injection of atropine (4 micrograms/microliters) into the same brain area and was accompanied by an increased sodium content in the stomach. Muscarinic receptor mediated cholinergic inhibitory influence of the hypothalamus on gastric acid secretion is suggested by these results.