[Effect of ascorbic acid on the intestinal motor activity in domestic animals]

In this paper, the effect of ascorbic acid on motoric activity of the intestines of rabbits, pigs, cows, sheep and horses has been determined, and a possible participation of the adrenogenic system in this mechanism has been shown. In experiments in vitro the motility of the duodeum, jejunum, caecum and colon in the animals mentioned abowe was recorded by the method of Magnus after administration of ascorbic acid. Diastolic reactions were observed in all animals, which were much greater in small intestines than in large ones. To elucidate the diastolic mechanism under the influence of ascorbic acid, it was applied before and after blocking cholinergic and adrenergic receptors in the jejunum of the animals studied. The observed changes in the motility of the intestines seem not to be connected with cholinergic receptors. However, the action of ascorbic acid inhibiting the motility is probably mediated by adrenergic receptors, which was also confirmed by chronic experiments carried out on rabbits. In the farm animals studied the content of ascorbic acid in the wall of the particular intestine segments was determined by the colorimetric method after Roe and Kuenther. A direct proportional relationship was shown between the sensitivity of the intestines to ascorbic acid and its content in the intestine wall. The intestine segments richest in vitamin C showed the highest diastolic reaction under its influence. In control experiments, it was shown that diastolic reactions of the intestines obtained after the application of ascorbic acid were not caused by decreased pH.