Cecal Contractions Research Articles

Cecal motility and the impact of Lactobacillus in feather pecking laying hens

The gut-microbiota-brain axis is implicated in the development of behavioural disorders in mammals. As such, its potential role in disruptive feather pecking (FP) in birds cannot be ignored. Birds with a higher propensity to perform FP have distinct microbiota profiles and feed transit times compared to non-pecking counterparts. Consequently, we hypothesize that the gut microbiota is intimately linked to FP and gut motility, which presents the possibility of using probiotics to control FP behaviour. In the present study, we aim to assess the relationship between cecal motility and the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus in chickens classified as peckers (P, 13 birds) and non-peckers (NP, 17 birds). We show that cecal contractions were 68% less frequent and their amplitude increased by 58% in the presence of L. rhamnosus. Furthermore, the number of FP bouts performed by P birds was positively correlated with contraction velocity and amplitude. We present the first account of gut motility measurements in birds with distinct FP phenotypes. Importantly, the present work demonstrates the clear impact of a probiotic on cecal contractions. These findings lay the foundation for identifying biological differences between P and NP birds which will support the development of FP control strategies.

Electroporation-delivered transdermal neostigmine in rats: equivalent action to intravenous administration.

PurposeTransdermal electroporation has become one of the most promising noninvasive methods for drug administration, with greatly increased transport of macromolecules through the skin. The cecal-contracting effects of repeated transdermal electroporation delivery and intravenous administration of neostigmine were compared in anesthetized rats.MethodsThe cecal contractions were detected with implantable strain gauge sensors, and the plasma levels of neostigmine were followed by high-performance liquid chromatography.ResultsBoth intravenously and EP-administered neostigmine (0.2–66.7 μg/kg) increased the cecal contractions in a dose-dependent manner. For both the low doses and the highest dose, the neostigmine plasma concentrations were the same after the two modes of administration, while an insignificantly higher level was observed at a dose of 20 μg/kg after intravenous administration as compared with the electroporation route. The contractile responses did not differ significantly after the two administration routes.ConclusionThe results suggest that electroporation-delivered neostigmine elicits action equivalent to that observed after intravenous administration as concerning both time and intensity. Electroporation permits the delivery of even lower doses of water-soluble compounds through the skin, which is very promising for clinical practice.

A gastrointestinal electrical stimulation system based on transcutaneous power transmission technology.

Electrical stimulation has been suggested as a possible treatment for various functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). This paper presents a transcutaneous power supplied implantable electrical stimulation system. This technology solves the problem of supplying extended power to an implanted electrical stimulator. After implantation, the stimulation parameters can be reprogrammed by the external controller and then transmitted to the implanted stimulator. This would enable parametric studies to investigate the efficacy of various stimulation parameters in promoting gastrointestinal contractions. A pressure detector in the internal stimulator can provide real-time feedback about variations in the gastrointestinal tract. An optimal stimulation protocol leading to cecal contractions has been proposed: stimulation bursts of 3 ms pulse width, 10 V amplitude, 40 Hz frequency, and 20 s duration. The animal experiment demonstrated the functionality of the system and validated the effects of different stimulation parameters on cecal contractions.

Dose-dependent effects of mosapride citrate on duodenal and cecal motility in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Prokinetic drugs are used for the management of gastrointestinal motility disorders in horses; however, little is known about their efficacy in donkeys. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of mosapride citrate on duodenal and cecal motility in normal donkeys. Six donkeys (n=6) were used in a crossover study. Mosapride citrate was administered orally via a nasogastric tube at dose rate of 1, 2 and 3mgkg−1. Duodenal and cecal motility were evaluated using ultrasonography before administration and at 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180min post-administration. There was a significant increase of duodenal contractions (p<0.05) after 30min of mosapride citrate administration at 3mgkg−1 with a prolonged (p<0.05) prokinetic effect at 2mgkg−1. Cecal contractions were significantly increased (p<0.05) after 15min at different doses of mosapride with a prolonged effect at 3mgkg−1. The results of the present study indicate that mosapride citrate has a dose-dependent prokinetic effect on the duodenal and cecal contractions in healthy donkeys. Further studies need to determine whether mosapride citrate is effective in treatment of intestinal disorders in donkey.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Duodenal and Cecal Motility after Administration of Different Doses of Domperidone in Donkeys (Equus Asinus).

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of domperidone on duodenal and cecal motility in donkeys. Six adult donkeys (n = 6) were used in a crossover study. Domperidone was administered orally via nasogastric tube at a dose rate of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg kg-1. Duodenal and cecal contractions were evaluated by ultrasonography using a 5 MHz curved-linear transducer. Examinations were performed before administration and at 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes post-administration. There was a significant (p< 0.05) increase of duodenal contractions after 15 minutes of domperidone administration at 1 mg kg-1 and lasted until 60 minutes. The cecal contractions were also significantly increased after 15 minutes and lasted until 60 minutes at a dose rate of 1 and 2 mg kg -1 (MANOVA fit, p< 0.01; Wilks, Lambda for dose × time interaction, p < 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that 1 mg kg-1 domperidone is the most effective prokinetic dose on duodenal and cecal contraction. Domperidone may be an alternative prokinetic drug for intestinal and cecal disorders in equines.

Evaluation of equine cecal motility by ausculation, ultrasonography and electrointestinography after jejunocecostomy

Objective Horses often suffer reduced intestinal motility after jejunocecostomy. Therefore, accurate evaluation of intestinal motility is important for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intestinal motility in horses after jejunocecostomy using three different methods, i.e. auscultation, ultrasonography and electrointestinography. Animals Six healthy thoroughbreds were used in this study. They were subjected to jejunocecostomy. Procedure Bowel sounds in the right paralumbar fossa were assigned a score of 0–3 for intestinal motility evaluation by auscultation, and the number of cecal contractions during a 3-min period were counted by ultrasonography. Electrointestinography (EIG) was used to measure percutaneous potential of the cecum. Results We identified three specific postoperative periods: the period of reduced intestinal motility (postoperative day 1 to day 2), in which intestinal motility declined, the unstable period (day 3 to day 7), in which intestinal motility partially recovered, and the full recovery period (day 8 to day 31), in which intestinal motility returned to preoperative state. Careful management was found to be especially important during the period of reduced intestinal motility and the unstable period. We found that, in healthy horses that underwent jejunocecostomy, it takes approximately one month for the cecum to return to normal motility patterns observed before surgery. Conclusion We have shown in this study that evaluation of intestinal motility after jejunocecostomy in horses by EIG is more objective and provides more details than evaluation by auscultation or ultrasonography.

The application of electrocecography for evaluation of cecum motility in horses.

Electrogastrography (EGG), in which the electrical activity of the smooth muscular layer of the stomach is recorded percutaneously through the abdominal wall, has been applied in recent years to humans as a non-invasive method. In acute abdominal disease in horses, it is considered diagnostically useful to analyze digestive activity using EGG. Electrocecography (ECG) was examined to determine its effectiveness in evaluating equine digestive motility through comparison, after xylazine administration, between the results of the percutaneous ECG method and the results obtained using a strain-gauge force transducer (Force Transducer) chronically attached to the serous membrane of the cecum. As subjects, the test used six male thoroughbreds (average weight: 457.5 +/- 9.2 kg). The test showed a reduction in both the percutaneous electrical potential of the cecum in ECG and in cecal contractions measured with the Force Transducer. After xylazine administration, an average rates of decrease of the amplitude from the control period were 17.8 +/- 3.4% and 20.0 +/- 4.6% respectively, demonstrating a significant correlation (r = 0.90) between the two methods. On the other hand, power distribution centered around 6 cycles per minute in a Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of ECG, thought similar to the contraction frequency of 5.4 +/- 3.0 per minute observed with the Force Transducer. After xylazine administration, the total frequency band (1.8-12 cycle per min) in the running spectrum total power in ECG decreased to 37.0 +/- 5.1% of the pre-xylazine value. Based on these findings, it appears that the ECG potential reflected electrical activity of cecal origin, suggesting high clinical applicability of ECG to the percutaneous evaluation of equine cecal motility.

Effects of Cecal Ligation and Colostomy on Motility of the Rectum, Ileum, and Cecum in Turkeys

Motilities of the rectum, ileum, and ceca were examined in surgically prepared turkeys by using strain gauge transducers implanted on these sites after cecal ligation or colostomy. All birds were provided ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the study. Cecal ligation increased the frequency of small anti-peristaltic contractions in the proximal (P < .01) and distal (P < .05) rectum and the frequency of defecations (P < .05) compared with intact controls. Cecal ligation decreased the frequency of single contractions in the proximal ileum (P < .05) and that of all contractions in the distal ileum (P < .05), and ligation (P < .01) and colostomy (P < .05) increased the frequency of single contractions in the distal site. However, major and minor cecal contractions were not affected by colostomy in the proximal and distal cecum. The results suggest that the effects on contractile activities of the hindgut must be considered when interpreting responses to cecal ligation and colostomy.

Ileocecal Bladder Augmentation in Myelodysplasia

We discuss 14 children and adolescents with myelodysplasia who underwent bladder augmentation with the ileocecal segment. The bowel was not detubularized nor was the ileocecal valve intussuscepted. Urodynamic evaluation was performed before and after the procedure in 13 patients with a followup of 1 to 8 years. Postoperative capacity and compliance were normal but cecal contractions occurred in 8 patients despite adequate doses of anticholinergics. Reflux was demonstrated at capacity with a cecal contraction in 4 patients but upper tract dilatation and infection were not clinical problems. Three patients required reoperation for complications owing to ureteroileal stenosis and/or urinary tract calculi. Although the clinical results were satisfactory, detubularized segments of bowel with intussuscepted afferent loop valves to prevent reflux may resolve these problems in the future.