EFFECTS OF AFFERENT AND EFFERENT CELIAC NERVES ON ACUTE GASTRIC-LESIONS - DUE TO CHANGES IN BLOOD-FLOW

Since ablation of afferent nerves prior to stress results in increased severity of acute gastric mucosal lesions, afferent nerves are though t to mediate protective mechanisms in the stomach. These mechanisms ar e known to include vasodilation of gastric mucosal vessels; vasodilati on is thought to allow the gastric mucosa to respond to injurious subs tances. However, it is not known whether other aspects of mucosal heal th, independent of those caused by increased blood blow, are affected by afferent blockade. This study compared gastric blood flow and acute gastric mucosal lesions during stress in rats with either chemical sy mpathectomy or afferent blockade. The purpose of the study was to comp are the lesion index and blood flow in each treatment group. The lesio n index was highest in rats with afferent blockade and lowest after sy mpathectomy. Gastric blood flow was partially preserved after sympathe ctomy, but was not greatly increased, suggesting that some of the effe cts observed after afferent blockade are unrelated to changes in blood flow.