Analyses of small bowel propulsion, ileo-caecal passage and serum gastrin after truncal vagotomy. A methodological study in the rat with continuous intraduodenal infusion.

A test substance containing 51CrO--4 was administered to the duodenum of vagotomized or sham-operated, conscious rats for 5 hours at a rate of 3.3 mul/min. The distribution of 51Cr in the stomach, small bowel, caecum and colon was measured with a scintillation counter. Data reduction was made with automatic methods. The activity distribution in the small bowel was found to be irregular. A transit time of about 3 hours was observed between the duodenum and the caecum. The proximal 40% of the small bowel was passed in about 30 min at a constant rate. No differences between vaotomized animals and controls could be demonstrated. The passage from ileum to caecum in vagotomized animals indicated a process, with constant portions, each discharge containing about 11% of the total administered activity, implying two discharges per hour.