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

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: 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 electromyography. METHODS: Isolated segments of rat ileum were perfused arterially with oxygenated fluorocarbon solution and …