Studies on motor activity of Heidenhain pouches during the interdigestive state

Abstract

A great number of studies using Heidenhain pouch have been reported but most of them have been concerned with secretory activity. Studies on the motor activity of the pouch are few. In the present study, therefore, long term changes in contractile activity of the Heidenhain pouches were recorded simultaneously with those of the main stomach in conscious dogs by means of chronically implanted force transducers.
It was found that during the interdigestive state Heidenhain pouches contracted precisely in association with interdigestive contractions in the main stomach. During this time a series of strong contractions lasted for 24.2±1.90 min and then ceased abruptly. Such strong contractions were followed by a long period of motor quiescence lasted for 86.8±6.06 min. These characteristic recurring episodes in the Heidenhain pouch and the main stomach lasted during the interdigestive state but were inhibited by the ingestion of food or i.v. administration of pentagastrin (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 p.g/kg-hr). These findings indicate that the interdigestive motor activity of the stomach is strongly controlled by a humoral factor (s) rather than the parasympathetic nervous system.