Comparative Study on the Effects of Urethane Anaesthesia and Pithing on Gastric Acid Secretion in Common African Toads (Bufo regularis)

Abstract

The pattern of gastric acid secretion under urethane anaesthesia and pithing In common African toads were investigated using the continuous method of Recording acid secretion. Histamine was administered intramuscularly under Urethane induction and pithing to study their effects on gastric secretion. After an overnight fast, the animals were anaesthetized with urethane or pithing was inducted depending on the study. The results showed that urethane provoked acid secretion while pithing inhibited it (p<0.05). Histamine produced an increase in acid output under urethane but not in pithing (p>0.05). It is concluded that urethane increased acid secretion while pithing suppressed it, and that both the vagal and histaminic pathways were involved in the acid secretory pattern observed for urethane anaesthesia and pithing in this study.