Abstract

In seven duodenal ulcer patients the effect of intraduodenal infusion of 20 ml oleic acid on submaximal gastric acid secretion stimulation by a continuous pentagastrin infusion was evaluated before and after proximal gastric vagotomy. In the control tests 20 ml of saline was given. Before vagotomy, oleic acid evoked a significant inhibition of gastric acid secretion of 25% compared with the controls. This inhibition was abolished after proximal gastric vagotomy. The difference in inhibition before and after vagotomy was significant (P=0.01). It is concluded that the vagus nerve in man plays a decisive role in duodenal fat inhibition of gastric acid secretion.