Effects of enteric neural defunctioning on small bowel motility

In this study, we investigated the role of intrinsic nerves of the small intestine on phase III migration of the migrating myoelectric complex. Fasting myoelectric activity was recorded from the small bowel in chronically instrumented dogs. Once control experiments were completed, the animals were divided into two groups and were reoperated. In the first group of five dogs, a 1.5-g/dl aqueous solution of cobaltous chloride (shown to induce degeneration of intestinal intrinsic nerves) was infused close intra-arterially to perfuse a 15-cm segment of jejunum. In the second group of dogs, a catheter was implanted in a branch of the superior mesenteric artery supplying a 15-cm segment of intestine. Tetrodotoxin (0.3-1 micrograms/kg) was infused through the catheter just before the arrival of phase III activity in the perfused segment. Subsequent to the fifth postcobalt perfusion day, phase III traversed but did not occur in the cobalt-treated segment. When tetrodotoxin was injected through the catheter, spontaneous phasic myoelectric and contractile activities in the perfused jejunal segment were inhibited, but phase III migration was not blocked. These findings suggest 1) acute or chronic defunctioning of enteric nerves does not interrupt phase III migration, but 2) phase III expression is dependent on the integrity of intrinsic nerves.