Gastric secretory effect of amino acids given enterally and parenterally in dogs.

To investigate the possible role of absorbed amino acids in the "intestinal phase" of gastric secretion, experiments were carried out in 5 mongrel dogs with Heidenhain pouches, gastrostomies, and Roux en-Y jejunostomises. A 3% solution of mixed amino acids was infused at a constant rate of 120 ml per hr throughout a 2-hr period either intravenously or intrajejunally, and the secretory response of the pouches was compared to that obtained during similar infusions of 0.9% NaCl. Intravenous administration of saline did not stimulate gastric secretion. The mean secretory responses (muEq per 2 hr) were: intrajejunal saline 37, intravenous amino acids 330, and intrajejunal amino acids 301. These results suggest that amino acids, absorbed from the gut, may play a role in the stimulation of gastric secretion which occurs when food passes through the intestine.