A STUDY OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL MOTILITY IN RELATION TO THE ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

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Abstract
Experimental evidence is presented showing that gastric peristalsis, rhythmic contractions of the small intestine, and colonic antiperistalsis persist in dogs following the administration of nicotin in doses sufficient to paralyze the most peripheral elements of the enteric nerves. The motility of the denervated preparations differs from that of normal preparations in that the irregularities of tonus and amplitude of contraction characteristic of the normal preparations are absent after denervation. Although these results may be interpreted as favorable to the view that the above types of motility are myogenic, the authors believe that the mechanical regularity of activity of denervated muscle indicates that myogenic function is not sufficiently variable, apart from nervous control, to adequately serve even the simpler motor functions of the alimentary canal. Evidence is assembled from the literature and the previous work of one of the authors (Kuntz) tending to show that the myenteric plexus comprises functional reflex arcs.

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