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Motor patterns and propulsion in the rat intestine in vivo recorded by spatio‐temporal maps
Author(s) -
Ferens D. M.,
Chang E. C.,
Bogeski G.,
Shafton A. D.,
Kitchener P. D.,
Furness J. B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2005.00684.x
Subject(s) - in vivo , anatomy , small intestine , jejunum , peristalsis , biology , chemistry , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology
We have used spatio‐temporal maps derived from video images to investigate propagated contractions of the rat small intestine in vivo . The abdomen, including an exteriorized segment of jejunum, was housed in a humid chamber with a viewing window. Video records were converted to spatio‐temporal maps of jejunal diameter changes. Intraluminal pressure and fluid outflow were measured. Contractions occupied 3.8 ± 0.2 cm of intestine and propagated anally at 3.1 ± 0.2 mm s −1 when baseline pressure was 4 mmHg. Contractions at any one point lasted 8.7 ± 0.6 s. Contractions often occurred in clusters; within cluster frequencies were 2.28 ± 0.04 min −1 . Pressure waves, with amplitudes greater than about 9 mmHg, expelled fluid when the baseline pressure was 4 mmHg. In the presence of l ‐NAME, circular muscle contractions occurred at a high frequency, but they were not propagated. We conclude that video recording methods give good spatio‐temporal resolution of intestinal movement when applied in vivo . They reveal neurally‐mediated propulsive contractions, similar to those previously recorded from intestinal segments in vitro . The propagated contractions had speeds of propagation that were slower and frequencies of occurrence that were less than speeds and frequencies of slow waves in the rat small intestine.