Effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on gastric secretion in the cat.

The effects of porcine vasoactive intestinal peptide on the acid and pepsin secretions from denervated gastric pouches and innervated stomach were studied in conscious cats both in basal conditions and after stimulation with pentagastrin, histamine, or a liver meal. In contrast with the well-known inhibitory effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on acid and pepsin secretions in dogs, the peptide induced in cats an increase of the acid and pepsin responses to pentagastrin and an increase of the gastric mucosal blood flow as determined by aminopyrine clearance. Vasoactive intestinal peptide similarly enhanced the acid and pepsin responses to a liver meal in spite of a significant inhibition of the postprandial release of gastrin. The peptide increased the pepsin response but slightly decreased the acid response to histamine. Thus in cats, porcine vasoactive intestinal peptide consistently stimulates pepsin secretion and potentiates the meal- and pentagastrin-induced acid responses.