title: Migrating action potential complexes--a feature of normal jejunal myoelectric activity in the rat.
abstract: To determine if migrating action potential complexes (MAPCs) are a feature of normal motility, Hooded-Lister rats (100-150 g) were surgically prepared with three pairs of bipolar jejunal electrodes spaced 2.5 cm apart and with a jejunostomy tube for motility recording. Animals were studied conscious and unrestrained on postoperative day 14 after an 18-h fast. Intestinal myoelectric and motor activity was recorded for a 1-h interval in 24 animals that continued to fast and in 12 animals that were allowed to feed for 10 min. Fasting rats had a jejunal slow wave frequency of 32 +/- 2 contractions/min which did not differ significantly after feeding. Migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC) were clearly identified in all fasting animals and had a cycle period of 10.0 +/- 3.6 min. MAPCs were seen during phase II in 83% of MMCs and had an average distribution of 4.2 +/- 3.9/MMC. Feeding abolished the MMC and initiated a continuous irregular pattern of electrical spiking and associated contractile activity. Migrating action potential complexes were seen after feeding with a frequency of 1.8 +/- 0.4/min. It is concluded that MAPCs are a common feature of normal interdigestive phase II and also of postprandial jejunal motility in the rat. This supports the hypothesis that the MAPC is a basic propulsive motor pattern intrinsic to normal intestinal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Alta., Canada.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Diamant
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D005215:Fasting; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D007583:Jejunum / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats