Alleviation of excessive gas accumulation in the ruminant stomach by ritanserin

The relationships between forestomach motility and eructation rate were studied in sheep and cattle. Three ewes and 2 heifers were implanted with strain gauges on the reticulo-rumen and fitted with a cannula in the dorsal sac of the rumen. Studies were performed in sheep after induction of hypocalcemia by Na2EDTA infusion and cattle were studied after ruminal distension. Experiments were performed by measuring the rate and volume of eructated ruminal gases, using a technique by which the trachea is transected. The frequency of reticulo-ruminal contractions decreased 40% within 30 minutes of Na2EDTA infusion to the sheep. The volume of eructated gas (for 30-minute periods) decreased from 10.7 L to 5.5 L at the end of the 60-minute infusion period. Pretreatment with ritanserin (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) not only prevented bloating during the ruminal stasis induced by hypocalcemia, but also significantly increased the eructated volume of gas. In cattle, ritanserin given at the same dose level (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) significantly increased the volume of eructated gas after ruminal distension. This study supports the hypothesis that the caudal esophageal sphincter has a role in the rate of ruminal gas eructation and indicates that its relaxation may be due to a 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist.