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Effect of moderate exercise on blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract in trained conscious miniature swine
F V Mortensen1, M Bayat, H Friis-Andersen
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery L, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Aim:
To examine how moderate exercise affects the blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract.
Materials And Methods:
Twelve miniature swine weighing 38-43 kg were used. All animals were trained on a cardiac exercise treadmill. Blood flow measurements were done on conscious animals using labeled microspheres with a diameter of 16.5 +/- 0.1 (SD) microm. The first flow was measured while the animal was awake and resting, the second flow after 15 min of exercise, the third flow after 30 min of rest.
Results:
Flow in the oesophagus at rest was 19.5 +/- 1.3 (SEM) ml/min/100 g. During exercise the flow decreased to 13.3 +/- 1.2 (SEM) ml/min/100 g (ns). After 30 min of rest the flow was 9.9 +/- 1.2 (SEM) ml/min/100 g (p < 0.05 when comparing the flow before and after exercise). Flow in the cardia at rest was 23.1 +/- 1.3 (SEM) ml/min/100 g. During exercise the flow decreased to 14.0 +/- 1.2 (SEM) ml/min/100 g (p < 0.05). After 30 min of rest the flow was 15.0 +/- 1.2 (SEM) ml/min/100 g. Flow in the pylorus at rest was 38.9 +/- 1.1 (SEM) ml/min/100 g. During exercise the flow decreased to 24.6 +/- 1.1 (SEM) ml/min/100 g (p < 0.01). After 30 min of rest the flow was 26.9 +/- 1.2 (SEM) ml/min/100 g. Blood flow in the small and large intestine was mainly unaffected by moderate exercise.
Conclusion:
Under moderate exercise, blood flow in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract declines while it is mainly unaffected in the duodenum, small and large intestine.
