Correlation of contractions and transit in rat small intestine

A single strain gauge was implanted chronically in the proximal jejunum of the rat to record contractions. FAsted pentobarbital-anesthetized animals received glucagon, caerulein, or isotonic saline control infusions intravenously while contractions were recorded. In control animals, the distribution of contractions in time showed clusters, with peaks at intervals of 14.24 +/-5.6 (SD) min. Glucagon produced dose-related inhibition of contractions. Caerulein at two lower doses produced a more uniform distribution of contractions in time; a higher dose caused inhibition. In other fasted rats, an isotopically labeled bolus was given through a chronically implanted duodenal cathether, and its distribution along the small intestine was examined in animals receiving the same doses of glucagon, caerulein, and saline. Glucagon caused a dose-related delay in transit. Those doses of caerulein that produced a uniform distribution of contractions accelerated transit; the dose that inhibited contractions delayed transit. Doses of glucagon and caerulein known to affect both motility and transit did not significantly affect water movement. The fasted rat resembles the fasted go in respect to the temporal distributions of jejunal contractions at a single point. Both quantitative and qualitative changes in contractions induce changes in transit.