Increased canine jejunal absorption of water, glucose, and sodium with intestinal pacing

Our aim was to determine if pacing a segment of jejunum backwards with electrical stimuli could increase absorption from it. In four dogs, 75-cm loops of jejunum were isolated from the intestinal stream. After recovery, fluid was infused into the proximal stoma of the loop and effluent collected from the distal stoma for three consecutive 30-min periods. In the second period electrical stimuli were applied to the distal end of the loop to drive the pacesetter potentials of the loop, hence its contractions, backwards. The output of water, glucose, and sodium from the loop was decreased, and the transit of content through the loop was slowed during backward pacing. We conclude that pacing a segment of jejunum backwards with electrical stimuli enhances absorption of water, glucose, and sodium from that segment.