Evidence of a Gastro-Hepatic Osmoregulation in Humans and the Influence of Vagotomy on its Activity

Abstract

Thirteen persons were studied with infusion of an 0.44% saline solution via a gastric tube or a peripheral vein. Intragastric infusion resulted in a more prompt increase in excretion of a diluted diuresis than did intravenous infusion. This was taken as evidence of an osmotic receptor mechanism located in the stomach and/or liver. Five patients were examined after truncal vagotomy, which did not change the renal response. Neither did antrectomy change the response. Selective gastric vagotomy, however, performed in three patients abolished the renal response to hypotonic intragastric infusion.

Key-words:

• Osmoreceptors
• hepatic
• osmoregulation
• vagotomy
• selective gastric
• vagotomy, truncal