| Abstract: | Effects of cholinergic agonists and serotonin were examined on the chronically denervated stomach fundus. We developed a new method of adrenergic denervation (sympathectomy), which was confirmed chemically, histochemically and functionally. Vagotomy was performed by the usual method. The sensitivity of the longitudinal muscle of the fundus to cholinergic agonists and serotonin was not modified by chronic sympathectomy or vagotomy when determined from the ED50 of the dose-response curve. The maximum contractile response of vagotomized fundus to each cholinergic agonist and to serotonin was significantly decreased, whereas only a slight decrease was observed in sympathectomized fundus. Ca2+-contracture in Ca2+-free isotonic K+ Ringer's solution was markedly decreased in chronically vagotomized or sympathectomized fundus. Efflux of 45Ca in Ca2+-free isotonic K+ Ringer's solution was significantly lowered by vagotomy but only slightly by sympathectomy. No significant change in ATP content was observed in the vagotomized or sympathectomized fundus. |
