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The effects of ischemia on intestinal nerves and electrical slow waves

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Abstract

The effects of prolonged ischemia on the electrical and mechanical activity of the jejunum were studied in acute and chronic preparations in dogs to answer the two questions: (a) Does ischemia alter electrical slow waves of intestinal muscle? (b) Does ischemia cause sufficient damage to intrinsic nerves to account for its effects? Distorted, irregular slow waves with low frequency and poor coupling compared to those in proximal normal segments were recorded in vivo in postischemic segments of chronic preparations. Typical slow waves were not recorded in acute preparations. Although the absence of reflex responses was noted in all postischemic segments, contractions were initiated by drugs acting on nerves. Rhythmic movements were absent in strips isolated from postischemic segments. Severe smooth muscle damage in acute but not in chronic preparations was demonstrated by analyses of ion contents. Jejunal strips from both control and postischemic segments of chronic preparations responded to transmural electrical stimulation. The contractions were decreased by hexamethonium and prevented by atropine or tetrodotoxin. Therefore, prolonged ischemia produced acute damage to smooth muscle and acute and prolonged damage to intrinsic nervous activity, resulting in abolished reflexes and changes in the electrical and mechanical activity of the intestines. However, this technic failed to produce an aganglionic and completely denervated segment.

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Author notes

  1. J. Khin Kyi Kyi MD, PhD

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Institute I, University of Rangoon, Lanmadaw, Rangoon, Burma

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Pharmacology, The University of Alberta, Edmonton 7, Canada

    J. Khin Kyi Kyi MD, PhD & E. E. Daniel PhD

Authors
  1. J. Khin Kyi Kyi MD, PhD
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  2. E. E. Daniel PhD
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Supported by grants from the Life Insurance Medical Research Fund and the Canadian Heart Foundation.

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Kyi Kyi, J.K., Daniel, E.E. The effects of ischemia on intestinal nerves and electrical slow waves. Digest Dis Sci 15, 959–981 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232813

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