Influence of duodenal digesta composition on abomasal outflow, motility and small intestinal transit time in sheep

1. A study was made of the influence of duodenal infusion of some of the components of the digesta on gastrointestinal motility, abomasal outflow and small intestinal transit time in seven sheep fed 1500 g grass pellets/day. Gastrointestinal motility was recorded by electromyography. Abomasal outflow was estimated according to the rate of dilution of CrEDTA injected and sampled via an abomasal catheter. Small intestinal transit time was measured by the passage of Phenol Red from the duodenum to the terminal ileum. 2. Abomasal outflow was inhibited during 3 h infusions (5 ml/min) of 100 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids, of 50 mM-HCl, of 0.56 M-glucose, and of 2 and 4% protein hydrolysate. Abomasal motility was inhibited by these infusions and by infusion of 234 mM-oleic acid (0.75 ml/min), of a fat emulsion (Intralipid 20% 0.3 ml/min) and of 50 mM-L-tryptophan (7.5 ml/min). 3. Abomasal motility and, where tested, abomasal outflow, were not affected by duodenal infusion of 150 mM-NaHCO3 (5-10 ml/min), 0.28 M-NaC1 (5-7.5 ml/min), distilled water (5-7.5 ml/min), 25 mM-L-tyrosine (5 ml/min), and of 50 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids (5 ml/min). 4. At concentrations or rates of infusion above the threshold dose needed to inhibit abomasal motility, small intestinal motility was altered and the frequency and amplitude of the reticulo-ruminal contractions were inhibited. 5. The transit time through the small intestine was increased during infusion of 100 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids and decreased during infusion of 0.56 M-glucose and Intralipid. 6. Inhibition of abomasal motility and outflow in sheep receiving 1500 g/day grass pellets was calculated to require increases in the duodenal concentration of volatile fatty acids of about 150% and K+ of about 38%, and to require an increase in the rate of delivery to the duodenum of H+ of about 90%, nitrogen of about 22% glucose of about 2000% and fat of about 84%. 7. These findings are discussed in relation to the composition of abomasal and duodenal digesta in sheep fed different diets. 8. It seems likely that components of duodenal chyme, such as H+, volatile fatty acids, glucose and fat only affect abomasal outflow in sheep fed high-grain diets (glucose, volatile fatty acids), or diets highly supplemented with fat (fat), for short periods after meal feeding (volatile fatty acids) or under abnormal conditions (H+).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)