2.6.4. Determination of Gastric Acid Secretion

The animals submitted to a 12 h fast were anesthetized with (xylazine/ketamine) and through an incision of about 2 cm in the abdomen, after locating the stomach, the pylorus was ligated with suture [23]. The groups received intraduodenal routes, saline (10 mL/kg), cimetidine (100 mg/kg), or SmNE (250 mg/kg). The abdominal wall was sutured, asepsis of the surgery site was ensured by treatment with iodized alcohol, and the animals were then placed in appropriate boxes. Four hours after surgery, the animals were euthanized and their stomachs were removed after tying the cardia, to prevent loss of secreted material. The mucosa was washed with 3 mL of distilled water, and gastric content was collected in test tubes. The volume of gastric content was measured, weighed and the total acidity was quantified using a digital pH meter.