Gastric Acidity in Young and Adult Mice

Abstract

Helander, H. F. 1970. Gastric Acidity in Young and Adult Mice. Scand. J. Gastroent. 5, 221-224.

Gastric acid secretion in response to histamine stimulation was studied in young and adult mice. In the fasted adult mice the stomach contained 29 ± 5.9 μEq of titrable acid; one hour after an injection of histamine (dose: 1.25 mg/g body weight) a significant increase was recorded to 89 ± 47.2 μEq. In the new-born, fasted, histamine-stimulated mice gastric pH averaged 6.7, as measured with indicator paper. During the following 4 days the gastric pH decreased to about 2.8, and remained at this level up to 10 days of age. In the non-fasted 10 day-old mice the stomach was distended by a milk clot. In the centre of this clot the pH was about 7.0, but along its surface it was more acid (pH about 4). In the antrum, the pH was about 6.6.

Key-words:

• Gastric acid determination
• histamine
• hydrogen-ion concentration
• mice, adult, infant