Effect of intraluminal distension of the stomach on electrical activity of the gastric wall

To clarify the gastric emptying mechanism. the present study was made using thirty one mongrel dogs. A rubber balloon was inserted into the stomach through the mouth and a bipolar needle electrode was sewn into the pyloric wall muscle by laparotomy. The electrical activity of the pylorus was investigated when the cardia, body, and antrum of the canine stomach was distended respectively by inflating the balloon with air or water.The results are summerized as follows:1. Distension of the cardia and body caused little changes in the pyloric action potentials.2. In a condition which the antrum. was distended a marked increase in electrical activity of the pylorus was observed.3. Effect of distension of the antrum. on the electrical activity of the pylorus was not influenced by anesthetizing the gastric mucosa using 4 % Lidocaine.From these findings it is suggested that each portion of the stomach. wall has a different response from the others to stretch stimulus and the antrum has a factor promoting the gastric emptying by revealing the most effective response to stretch.