Abstract
The motility of the bile ducts of the pigeon and the effects of autonomic drugs on it were studied in vivo and in vitro.
Peristalses which originated rhythmically at the hepatic end of the duct propagated to the duodenal end and excreated the bile into it. Antiperistalses did not occur in vivo. The intervals of peristalses of the duct in vivo changed variably while those of the spontaneous contractions in the isolated duct were fairly constant. No synchronization between the electrical activities recorded at the duodenal end of the duct and the duodenum close to the duct was observed.
Cholinergic drugs increased motilities of the duct and duodenum. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and phenylephrine induced the excitation of the duct and isoprenaline slight inhibition. All of these sympathomimetic drugs inhibited duodenal motility. The excitatory effect was abolished by α-adrenergic blocking agent, and the inhibitory one was abolished by α-and/or β-adrenergic blocking agents.
These results suggest that the bile duct is functionally independent of the duodenum and responsibility of the adrenergic drugs are different between two organs.
