The effect of visual deprivation on canine gastric secretion

In 13 dogs with gastric cannulas the acid output per hour was determined after: (a) subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mg histamine (base), (b) subcutaneous injection of 1.0 mg histamine (base), (c) teasing with meat (10 min interval), (d) intravenous injection of 1.0 units/kg of insulin. The pepsin concentration was also determined after the intravenous injection of 1.0 units/kg of insulin. The range and average acid output and pepsin concentration were established for each test condition per dog. Vision was compromised in the dogs by ablation of the orbits, collapse of the orbits, and by occipital cortical lesions. Gastric secretory studies were repeated at intervals over a 4 month period. There was marked inhibition of acid output and pepsin concentration in all dogs for the entire 4 month period to all gastric stimuli.Acknowledgment is made to medical students Alan C. Leshnower, Dennis G. Westmoreland and John M. Eisenberg; to Jan Rubion, University of Tennessee Clinical Research Center, for the pepsin determinations; to Robert H. Murray, Surgical Research Laboratories, VA Hospital, Memphis, Tenn; to Lena Haney for histologic preparations; and to T. Bond for handling the statistical material.Supported in part, by Grant GB-7687 from the National Science Foundation.Supported by General Research Grant FR-05423, NIH, US Public Health Service.Supported by Research Grant FR-00211, US Public Health Service.