[Hormonal and nervous controls of the gastro-intestinal motility in the hen (author's transl)].

Nervous and hormonal controls of the gut system were studied in 42 hens using electromyography with transparietal electrodes. The results were analysed in relation with various biochemical parameters. The hormonal changes which occurred during sexual maturation and the ovulatory cycle induced directly the circadian organization of the motility of the gizzard and indirectly the motility of the intestinal tract. This resulted from variable metabolic requirements, the calcium being the most important element. An antagonism between gizzard and intestine motility was demonstrated. The pharmacological study confirmed the excitatory effect of the cholinergic system. For the adrenergic system, alpha receptors were predominant on the gizzard and beta receptors on the intestinal tract, especially in the distal part.