Effect of electric current on gastric hydrogen ion and chloride ion secretion.

Using the chambered gastric segment preparation it was found that application of current from serosa to mucosa resulted in an increase in H+ ion production and a decrease in Clion secretion. Following the application of current from serosa to mucosa the secretory rate was essentially the same as before current application. Application of current from mucosa to serosa resulted in a decrease in H+ ion secretion and during the first IO-minute period sometimes an increase and sometimes a decrease in Clion output. With continued application currents from mucosa to serosa, both the H+ ion and Clion secretory rates continued to decline. Following cessation of current current from mucosa to serosa the application. The implications light of a theory of HCl formation. CCORDING to a previously published A theory of HCl formation there is an anion transporting system in both the resting and secreting mucosa that gives rise to the electromotive forces represented by & in the equivalent circuit diagramed in figure I (I, 2). It is assumed that the resistance (Rz) of the return circuit within the mucosa is very high in the resting stomach and very low in the secreting stomach. It is also assumed that during secretion current flow from 231 results in the formation of H+ ions at the site designated by EZ. The sending of a direct electric current (from an external battery) across the stomach in the direction indicated by arrow labelled IS would increase the current flow in the 12 limb and decrease it in the 11 limb of the circuit. In the secreting stomach an increase in 12 should result in an increase in the rate of H+ ion secretion and a decrease in 11 should result in a decrease in the rate of Clion secretion. Conversely, the sending of current in the opposite direction should decrease the rate of H+ ion secretion and increase Received for publication October IO, 1955. 1 This work was supported (in part) by the Medical Research and Development Board, Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, Contract No. DA4o-w7-MD-279 and (in part) by a research grant (No. G-3503) from the National Institutes of Health. secretory rate was less than before of these findings are discussed in the the rate of Clion secretion. These predictions are warranted only when the applied current does not change the parameters of the circuit. If the application of current results in a change in the parameters the theory might still be tested provided a new steady state is reached and the new values for the parameters remain unchanged for a sufficient time following the interruption of the current. Under these conditions it is apparent from figure I, that following the interruption of current flow from mucosa to serosa (i.e. I, negative), II would decrease and 12 would increase. These changes in II and 12 should be accompanied by a decrease in Clion secretion and an increase in H+ ion secretion. In previously reported work (3) it was shown that the sending of current from serosa to mucosa increased the rate of H+ ion secretion and that the sending of current in the opposite direction decreased the rate (see also 4). The primary purpose of the work reported below was the determination of the effects of the application of current on the rate of Clion secretion.