Effect of chemical sympathectomy (6-hydroxydopamine) on gastrointestinal propulsion after laparotomy. An experimental study in the rat.

The effect of chemical sympathectomy on gastric evacuation and small bowel propulsion 15 hours after a standardized laparotomy was evaluated. The animals were pre-treated with 50 mg/kg i. v. of 6-hydroxydopamine 15 or 48 hours or 150 mg/kg 48 hours before the evaluation of gastrontestinal propulsion. The treatment did not prevent the postoperative retardation. On the contrary 6-hydroxydopamine in itself seemed to retard gastrointestinal propulsion. In simultaneously adrenal demedullated rats no further retardation was produced by the laparotomy.