Simultaneous assessment of gastric emptying and secretion in rats by a novel computed tomography-based method

摘要

The present study focuses on two main functions of the stomach, i.e., gastric secretion and gastric emptying. Gastric secretion participates in nutrient digestion, but acid secretion is also an important component of the body's defense mechanisms. For instance, patients with decreased gastric secretion are more prone to enteric infections by Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli or Vibrio cholera (17, 24). The rate of gastric emptying determines nutrient release into the small intestine, which is particularly important to maintain postprandial nutrient homeostasis. Our understanding of stomach functions evolved rather slowly because of the lack of suitable in vivo methods applicable to high-throughput studies in rodents.