Peristaltic movement evoked in intestinal tube devoid of mucosa and submucosa

Computerized analysis of video-recorded peristalsis was made in a preparation of guinea-pig ileum tube from which both mucosa and submucosa were mechanically scraped off. Threshold value for provoking peristalsis was higher, conduction velocity of peristalsis was slower, and peristaltic force was weaker in comparison with the ileum tube from which only mucosa was scraped off and with the normal ileum tube. A histological control of the preparation proved that there was no nerve cell body of submucous plexus on the surface of separated circular muscle. It was concluded that peristalsis, though impaired, could be provoked by way of activation of the reflex arch consisted by neural circuit of myenteric neurons which should be produced by excitation of stretch receptors in the muscularis externa.