Standardisation of tracer and type of meal in the evaluation of gastric emptying and colon transit rates in normal beagle dogs.

The transit 111In-labelled polymer beads of different particle sizes in the stomach and colon of five healthy Beagle dogs was monitored after intake of different kinds of meal by a gamma camera and data processor system. The various meals studied were a solid balanced type of dog food mixed with milk, pure milk, and finally a meal of raw meat. The polymer beads carried triethylenetetramine type functions which efficiently chelated 111In+3 from an aqueous solution of InCl3. These labelled beads were well mixed into the food before being offered to the dogs. Gastric emptying curves from which half-times of emptying (T 1/2) could be obtained are presented and statistically compared. Good quality images with quantification of the colon transit rate also became possible. It appeared that standardisation of the tracer and of the meal is compulsory for relevant and reproducible results.