Effect of Anterior Unilateral Vagotomy on Healing of Kissing Gastric Ulcers Induced in Rats

Unilateral vagotomy causes atrophy of the denervated fundic mucosa in rat stomachs. We examined whether or not unilateral vagotomy delays healing of gastric ulcers induced on the denervated mucosa. Kissing ulcers were induced in the fundus of rat stomachs by intraluminal application of an acetic acid solution. Anterior unilateral vagotomy was performed subdiaphragmatically at the time of ulceration. The healing of gastric ulcers induced on the denervated side was significantly enhanced, whereas that on the vagally intact side was not affected. In unilaterally denervated animals, the total gastric acid secretion (both basal and 2-deoxy-D-glucose stimulated) was inhibited, and the pH around the ulcers was increased only in the anterior side. Repeatedly administered histamine failed to affect the enhanced ulcer healing in unilaterally denervated animals. Gastric emptying and mucosal cell proliferation stimulated by food or pentagastrin were unaffected. Serum gastrin significantly increased 19 days after vagotomy. Gastric relaxation on refeeding was inhibited on the denervated side, but this inhibition of relaxation was reversed by hexamethonium treatment. A liquid diet significantly enhanced the healing of ulcers on both the denervated and vagally intact sides. The mechanism by which unilateral vagotomy accelerates the healing of ulcers on the denervated side appears to relate to the inhibition of both gastric acid secretion and gastric relaxation.