Motility depressed intestinal propulsion following selective jejunal myotomy in the rat

The effect of segmentary sectioning of the proximal jejunal tunica muscularis on intestinal propulsion was studied in the rat. Care was taken to avoid damage to the mucosa. In no instance was perforation or occlusion of the intestine observed. Myotomy was followed by a significant slackening of the passage of a test meal during the first 15 min after feeding, while the total transit time was virtually unchanged. Sectioning the musculature of the intestinal wall is shown to be responsible for retardation of bowel passage.