Motor response to electric spatial stimulation of isolated intact and inflamed human appendix

The smooth muscle responses to electric stimulation of intact, slightly or severely inflamed, isolated human appendix strips were studied. No changes were noted in the motility of the not inflamed and slightly inflamed appendices, (simple appendicitis), the preparations responded to nervous stimulation with contractions of the same size. The smooth muscle contractions were blocked by atropine, and enhanced by physostigmine, which proves the cholinergic nature of the innervation. The severe inflammation (acute phlegmonous appendicitis) reduced also the contraction and relaxation of the appendix strips. With the advancement of the inflammatory process, the decreased motility of the appendix can play an in vivo role in the rapid progress of the process.