title: A quantitative approach to recording peristaltic activity from segments of rat small intestine in vivo.
abstract: We have developed methods that allow correlation of propulsive reflexes of the intestine with measurements of intraluminal pressure, fluid movement and spatio-temporal maps of intestinal wall movements for the first time in vivo. A segment of jejunum was cannulated and set up in a Trendelenburg recording system while remaining connected to the vascular and nerve supply of the anaesthetized rat. The resting intraluminal pressure in intact intestine was 2-4 mmHg. Hydrostatic pressures of 2, 4, 8 and 16 mmHg were imposed. At a baseline pressure of 4 mmHg, propulsive waves generated pressures of 9 +/- 1 mmHg, that progressed oral to anal at 2-5 mm s(-1). Individual propulsive waves propelled 0.8 +/- 0.4 mL of fluid. The frequency of propulsive waves increased with pressure, but peristaltic efficiency (mL per contraction) decreased with pressure increase between 4 and 16 mmHg. Atropine, as a bolus, transiently blocked peristalsis, but caused maintained block when infused. Hexamethonium blocked propulsive contractions. Inhibition of nitrergic transmission converted regular peristalsis to non-propulsive contractions. These studies demonstrate the utility of an adapted Trendelenburg method for quantitative investigation of motility and pharmacology of enteric reflexes in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bogeski
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shafton
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kitchener
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ferens
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Furness
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D018738:Hexamethonium; D001285:Atropine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester