Effect of secretin on bile secretion under conditions of partial denervation of the liver

Summary

In experiments on dogs and cats at various periods after the supradiaphragmatic vagotomy, bilateral section of the greater splanchnic nerves or excision of spinal ganglia in the D₅–D₁₀ segments a study was made of bile secretion in response to the intravenous injection of purified secretin.

Disturbance of the parasympathetic innervation of the liver in dogs leads at difinite periods of time to a rise in the sensitivity of the hepatic secretory apparatus to secretin. In cats under similar conditions there is a drop of hepatic cell sensitivity to secretin. A rise of hepatic cell sensitivity to secretin was seen at definite periods after spinal deafferentation of the liver in dogs.

Partial loss of the sympathetic innervation by the liver, resulting from section of the greater splanchnic nerves, led to a marked reduction of the secretin sensitivity of hepatic secretory elements both in dogs and in cats.