Injection of baclofen into the ventromedial hypothalamus stimulates gastric motility in the rat.
Injection of 2 micrograms (+/-)-baclofen into the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of urethane-anaesthetized rats resulted in an increase in gastric tone and amplitude of contractions. This effect was curtailed by administration of atropine methyl nitrate (20 mg/kg i.p.) or bilateral cervical vagotomy. These results provide evidence for a hypothalamic modulation of gastric motility by the vagus. Baclofen, possibly acting on receptors insensitive to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), may be mimicking a vagal activation system, located within the ventro-medial hypothalamus.
Wood
K L
KL
Department of Physiology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
Addae
J I
JI
Andrews
P L
PL
Stone
T W
TW
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014628:Vagotomy; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D009118:Muscimol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001285:Atropine; D001418:Baclofen