Effect of Varying Hematocrit Ratio on the Gastric Acid Secretion

ABSTRACT

Effect of varying hematocrit ratio on the gastric acid production was studied in the heart-stomach preparation of the frog. When the hematocrit ratio was raised by injecting packed red blood cells obtained from the same species of frog, the acid production was increased significantly as compared to the low hematocrit group in which hematocrit ratio was lowered by injecting frog's normal saline. When a small amount of histamine was added to the medium of 25degree C, the acid production was increased in all cases, but the difference in the acid production between the high and the low hematocrit groups was abolished. However, when the temperature of the medium was lowered to 15degree C, the differences in the acid production between the two groups became significant. When a large amount of acetazolamide was added to the medium at 25degree C, the acid production was decreased significantly in both groups without showing a significant difference between the two groups. The reason(s) responsible for the increased acid production in the high hematocrit group was discussed.