Effect of vagotomy and cervical sympathectomy on gastric acid secretion in anaesthetized guinea pigs

Experiments were performed to assess the effects of vagotomy or sympathectomy on histamine stimulated gastric acid secretion in anaesthetised guinea pigs. It was found that gastric acid secretion was decreased by vagotomy prior to histamine infusion. However there was no significant effect if vagotomy was done after the histamine stimulation was established. Sympathectomy rather unexpectedly caused a decrease in acid secretion. Some speculative reasons are put forward in order to try and explain these findings