Patterns of dog gastrointestinal contractile activity monitored in vivo with extraluminal force transducers

p REVIOUS WORK 1'~, 14 has established that the extraluminal [orce strain-gauge transducer is a reliable method for assessing contractile activity of gastrointestinal longitudinal and circular muscle separately and simultaneously in vivo. The transducer was modified so that compared to previous models an increased life expectancy and transducer sensitivity was obtained. The present study was concerned with obtaining and analyzing control patterns of dog gastrointestinal (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon) contractility so as to develop baseline control values [or future investigations. Patterns of contractile activity were obtained during the 2 physiological control states--digestiv e and interdigestive. In-vivo physiologic correlations of simultaneous contractility of various areas of the gastrointestinal tract are presented. Advantages of using the method to study drug action on the gastrointestinal tract are also presented.