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Effects of Gastric Acid and Vagal Denervation on Bacterial Concentrations

Peter W. Broido, MD; Sherwood L. Gorbach, MD; Robert E. Condon, MD; Lloyd M. Nyhus, MD

AMA Arch Surg. 1973;106(1):90-93.

Abstract
Dogs were divided into three groups of five each: group 1, 90% proximal gastrectomy resulting in achlorhydria; group 2, division of the celiac and hepatic branches of the vagal nerves (the vagal innervation to the stomach remained intact); and group 3, truncal vagotomy and antrectomy.

Intestinal content obtained from the stomach, the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum by direct needle aspiration at the initial operation and four weeks later was cultured aerobically and anaerobically in nine media. Significant increases in the concentration of coliforms occurred in the achlorhydric animals (groups 1 and 3); clostridia also increased significantly in concentration in group 3 animals. The celiac and hepatic vagotomy operation (group 2) caused no change in the microflora.

Results of these experiments suggest that gastric acid is more important than vagal factors in regulation of the microflora of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Author Affiliations
Chicago

From the departments of surgery and medicine, Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine; the Department of Infectious Disease, Cook County Hospital; and the Hektoen Institute of Medical Research, Chicago. Dr. Gorbach is now with the Sepulveda (Calif) VA Hospital, and Dr. Condon is with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Aug 30, 1972.

Reprint requests to PO Box 6998, Chicago 60612 (Dr. Broido).

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