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THE CHEMICAL EXCITABILITY OF THE ISOLATED RABBIT SMALL INTESTINE
Author(s) -
Chang PeiYen,
Hsu FongYen
Publication year - 1942
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1942.sp000863
Subject(s) - acetylcholine , small intestine , atropine , pilocarpine , chemistry , physostigmine , histamine , endocrinology , medicine , cholinergic , reflex , potassium , anatomy , biology , biochemistry , neuroscience , organic chemistry , epilepsy
1. The motility of the isolated rabbit intestine was registered in Tyrode solution. One, two, or three segments sampled from different levels of the intestine were used at a time and their response to various chemical stimulants and depressants compared. 2. Segments taken from upper levels of the intestine are generally more sensitive to acetylcholine, while those from lower levels are more senstitive to adrenaline. 3. This gradient of chemical excitability is easily upset by shock and asphyxia of the animal during the preparation of the intestine. 4. The stimulating action of barium, eserine, histamine, pilocarpine, and choline, and the depressing action of atropine, potassium, and magnesium are about equal in all the segments. 5. The difference in excitability of the intestinal muscle to the neuro‐hormones is probably an innate property of the muscle fibres of the intestine which is closely related to the gradient of rhythmicity of the muscle. The possible physiological significance of the phenomenon is discussed.