The effect of vagal nerve stimulation on net fluid transport in the small intestine of the cat

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Abstract
The effect of electrical vagal nerve stimulation on intestinal net fluid transport rate was studied in the small intestine of the cat. The splanchnic nerves were severed in all experiments. Absorption was quantified with a new gravimetric technique which also made it possible to study fluid transport during intestinal motility. The stimulation characteristics were varied to activate selectively low threshold fibers or low and high threshold fibers. The observations did not reveal any affects of low threshold stimulation or intestinal fluid transport whereas an inhibition was also seen when the high threshold fibers were stimulated. This inhibitory vagal mechanism could also be elicited after the administration of atropine. Atropine in itself increased resting net fluid absorption. The results refute a role for vagal cholinergic mechanisms in the control of net fluid absorption. There seem to be tonically active intramural cholinergic pathways and noncholinergic inhibitory vagal neurons of unknown physiological significance.