Quantitative analysis of intestinal motor patterns: spatiotemporal organization of nonneural pacemaker sites in the rat ileum

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 119; no. 2; p. 386
• Main Authors: Bercík, P, Bouley, L, Dutoit, P, Blum, A L, Kucera, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Arginine - pharmacology; Biological Clocks - physiology; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Electromyography; Enteric Nervous System - physiology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Female; Ileum - innervation; Ileum - physiology; In Vitro Techniques; Manometry; Muscle, Smooth - innervation; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Peristalsis - drug effects; Peristalsis - physiology; Physostigmine - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology; Videotape Recording

Intestinal contractions are triggered by electric activity of pacemaker cells within the smooth muscle. However, the precise spatial organization of the pacemaker system is unknown. We directly assessed the spatiotemporal organization of pacemakers by video image analysis combined with manometry and...