title: Prolonged ambulatory monitoring of colonic motor activity in the pig.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop a chronic model suitable for repeated, long-term studies of the interaction of behavior and colonic function in unrestrained pigs. Cecostomies were created in three 20-30 kg micropigs under general anesthesia. Fistulas were created by suturing the bowel to the abdominal wall. Recordings were made by passing a small (8F) solid-state pressure transducer through the fistula into the proximal bowel and connecting it to a battery-operated data logger worn in a vest on the pig's back. Cecostomies have remained patent and trouble-free for over 18 months. No serious infections have occurred. Preliminary data from a total of thirteen 24-h recording sessions showed 54% of all contractile activity to be in the 2-4 cpm frequency range. Increased motility was seen following meals and upon morning awakening. Motility was minimal during the night. Infrequent (10.31 +/- 2.05/24 h; mean +/- SD) propagated contractions were also noted. These contractions were generally of low amplitude (33.24 +/- 3.81 mmHg). These techniques allow prolonged, intraluminal recordings to be made from the colon of the unrestrained pig.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musial
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kittur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000502:physiology*