Reflex pressure response to the electric stimulation of different parts of the rat stomach

Abstract

The role of the autonomic nervous system in the pressor response to the electrical stimulation of different gastric zones has been studied in rats.The stimulus was applied before and after the following interventions: bilateral vagotomy, ganglionic blockade, alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.After the ganglionic blockade no pressor responses to the electrical stimulus were observed.After the alpha-adrenergic blockade a lower pressor response was observed.A hypertensive response can be induced by mechanical, chemical or electrical stimulation of gastric receptors.It is concluded that the pressor reflex following the application of an electrical stimulus on different zones of the digestive tract is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system and that the efferent pathways are mainly alpha-adrenergic ones.