Control of motor and secretory functions of the stomach by a portal glucose signal

d-glucose solution injected into the portal vein influences efferent tonic activities of the vagal nerve innervating the stomach. This suggested the existence of a neural connection between hepatic vagal branch afferents and gastric vagal efferents in the brain. Considering this observation together with findings indicating that electrical stimulation of the proximal cut end of the hepatic vagal branch changes acidity in the gastric perfusing fluid or pressure within the stomach, it has been presumed that hepatic afferent signals related to glucose may regulate the motor or secretory function of the stomach through a change in central nervous activity. Recently active interaction between the portal and medullary glucose signals in gastric function was discovered, and analysis of the characteristic features of the system is in progress.