title: Central effect of nicotine on gastric acid secretion in rats.
abstract: The central effect of nicotine on gastric acid secretion was examined in rats anesthetized with urethane. Intraventricular administration of nicotine 5 and 20 microgram/animal induced a dose-related increase in acid output. This nicotine-induced increase was blocked by treatment with hexamethonium 50 microgram/animal given intraventricularly or atropine 100 microgram/kg given intravenously. Changes in acid output after intravenous administration of nicotine 100 microgram/kg were inconsistent; however, a significant increase was observed with 500 microgram/kg of this alkaloid given by the same route. This increase was also blocked by hexamethonium 50 microgram/animal given intraventricularly. The level of gastrin in the gastric juice, after the intraventricular administration of nicotine 20 microgram/animal, did not significantly differ from the control. These results suggest that nicotine administered intraventricularly stimulates nicotinic receptors in the brain, and that there is a subsequent excitation of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the stomach after which the secretion of acid increases.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds; D009538:Nicotine; D001285:Atropine