Inhibition of gastric acid secretion in man by the transcranial application of lwo intensity pulsed current

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 69; no. 2; p. 359
• Main Authors: Kotter, G S, Henschel, E O, Hogan, W J, Kalbfleisch, J H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-1975
• Subjects: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Electronarcosis; Gastric Juice - secretion; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Histamine - pharmacology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Stimulation, Chemical
• ISSN: 0016-5085

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of transcranial electrotherapy (TCE) in reducing gastric secretion in man. TCE has been proposed as a therapeutic modality which induces a relaxed psychological state by the application of low intensity diffuse electrical current and has been purported by Soviet investigators to be beneficial in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Secretion rates were monitored in adult male volunteers by a method of intragastric titration utilizing a pH-sensitive telemetry capsule. In one study 5 subjects had their basal secretion rates monitored before, during, and after the application of TCE at graduated current intensities. A threshold of inhibition was observed for currents of 0.9 ma and greater. In a second study, 12 subjects had histamine-stimulated maximum acid output determined for control and during TCE application. Gastric acid secretion was reduced by an average of 30% when 1-ma TCE was applied, with individual reductions ranging from 5.7% to 53.2%. Since the application of relatively high TCE currents may produce discomfort in some subjects, a third study was conducted to determine whether the inhibition might not merely be the result of nonspecific noxious stimuli. For this study the electrical connections to the TCE electrodes were altered so that the same uncomfortable sensation was produced on the forehead, but no current was actually applied transcranially. This "placebo" TCE produced no reduction in the maximal acid output of 6 volunteers, but when the currents were applied transcranially, the gastric acid secretion was reduced by an average of 27% below control values.