The enigmatic electrical slow wave: A mirror on 100 years of research in gut motility

Szurszewski, JH

doi:10.1053/gast.1997.v113.agast971131785

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…These cycles of depolarization and repolarization of resting membrane potential of intestinal smooth muscle originate in pacemaker cells located at the outer border of the circular muscle close to its interface with the myenteric plexus, the cells of Cajal 5 . 6 The main advantage of the video technique is the possibility of following wall motion over a long segment, 4–7 cm, at regular, short spaces (the video lines) of 200–400 μm without alteration of muscular layers or neuronal cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and spatial rhythmicity of jejunal wall motion in rats

Bouchoucha

Benard

Dupres

1999

Neurogastroenterology Motil

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Isolated segments of jejunum of fasted rats exhibit regular rhythmic contractions at the same frequency as slow-waves. The aim of the present study was to search for a possible spatial rhythmicity of this activity. Using a video imaging technique, jejunal segments of 50 rats were studied. Only experiments (n=76) with no propagated contractions at visual inspection were included in the study. After the measurement, a spectral analysis of the diameter variations was performed. The bands were characterized by four parameters: level, main frequency, amplitude and phase. At each level, the phase varied, suggesting that the same rhythmic phenomenon occurred, but with a delay as a function of the spatial position. In 58 measurements, the rhythmic activity had a frequency near 0.50 Hz and in 18, near 0.25 Hz. Phase difference was found in 32 segments (42%). The variation with distance was linear as a function of time and its length was greater for the low-frequency group than for the high-frequency group (25.6 +/- 9.4 vs. 33.3 +/- 5.2 mm, P=0.015). By contrast, the speed of propagation was not significantly different. The wavelength lambda of the spatial rhythmicity was 27.7 +/- 23.2 and 9.8 +/- 4.2 mm (P=NS) in the high- and low-frequency groups, respectively. This corresponds to a speed of propagation of v=lambda*f, where f is the frequency of the wall motion (7.0 +/- 5.2 vs. 5.2 +/- 2.2 mm sec-1, P=NS).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and spatial rhythmicity of jejunal wall motion in rats

Bouchoucha

Benard

Dupres

1999

Neurogastroenterology Motil

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“…In an earlier study, recordings of electrical activity in the isolated cat small intestine showed that slow waves were not generated in the MP, but possibly within the longitudinal muscle layer (Connor et al 1974). However, later investigations showed that the tissues used in these experiments contained, in addition to muscle, another cell type, and that the pacemaker was not located in the muscle (for reviews see Sanders 1996, Szurszewski 1997 ). Suzuki et al (1986), recorded slow waves at various locations along the thickness cat small intestine that was cut transversely.…”

Section: Physiological Evidence For Icc As the Origin Of Slow Wavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1974 ). However, later investigations showed that the tissues used in these experiments contained, in addition to muscle, another cell type, and that the pacemaker was not located in the muscle (for reviews see Sanders 1996, Szurszewski 1997). Suzuki et al .…”

Section: Physiological Evidence For Icc As the Origin Of Slow Wavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The origin and mechanism of slow waves generation have been an enigma for many years ( Szurszewski 1997). In an earlier study, recordings of electrical activity in the isolated cat small intestine showed that slow waves were not generated in the MP, but possibly within the longitudinal muscle layer ( Connor et al .…”

Section: Physiological Evidence For Icc As the Origin Of Slow Wavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interstitial cells of Cajal – their role in pacing and signal transmission in the digestive system

Hanani

Freund

2000

Acta Physiologica Scandinavica

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Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are located in most parts of the digestive system. Although they were discovered over 100 years ago, their function began to be unravelled only recently. Morphological observations have led to a number of hypotheses on the possible physiological roles of ICC: (1) these cells may be the source of slow electrical waves recorded in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles; (2) they participate in the conduction of electrical currents, and (3) mediate neural signals between enteric nerves and muscles. These hypotheses were supported by experiments in which the ICC-containing layer was removed surgically, or when ICC were ablated chemically, and as a consequence the slow waves were absent. Electrophysiological experiments on isolated cells confirmed that ICC can generate rhythmic electrical activity and can also respond to messenger molecules known to be released from enteric nerves. In mice mutants deficient in ICC, or in mice treated with antibody against the protein c-Kit, slow wave activity was impaired. These results support the role of ICC as pacemaker cells. Physiological studies have shown that ICC in certain GI regions are important for signal transmission between nerves and smooth muscle. There is evidence that pathological changes in ICC may be associated with GI motility disorders. The full interpretation of the role of ICC in disease conditions will require much further study on the physiology and pharmacology of these cells.

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“…The first recordings of the electrical activity of the gut were made more than a century ago, and introduced the concept of slow wave activity and spike potentials associated with contractile behaviour of the gut [13]. This and subsequent work, performed both in vivo and in vitro, have greatly improved our understanding of the processes involved in gut motility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping slow waves and spikes in chronically instrumented conscious dogs: implantation techniques and recordings

Donck¹,

Lammers

Moreaux³

et al. 2006

Med Bio Eng Comput

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Myoelectric recordings from the intestines in conscious animals have been limited to a few electrode sites with relatively large inter-electrode distances. The aim of this project was to increase the number of recording sites to allow high-resolution reconstruction of the propagation of myoelectrical signals. Sets of six unipolar electrodes, positioned in a 3x2 array, were constructed. A silver ring close to each set served as the reference electrodes. Inter-electrode distances varied from 4 to 8 mm. Electrode sets, to a maximum of 4, were implanted in various configurations allowing recording from 24 sites simultaneously. Four sets of 6 electrodes each were implanted successfully in 11 female Beagles. Implantation sites evaluated were the upper small intestine (n=10), the lower small intestine (n=4) and the stomach (n=3). The implants remained functional for 7.2 months (median; range 1.4-27.3 months). Recorded signals showed slow waves at regular intervals and spike potentials. In addition, when the sets were positioned close together, it was possible to re-construct the propagation of individual slow waves, to determine their direction of propagation and to calculate their propagation velocity. No signs or symptoms of interference with normal GI-function were observed in the tested animals. With this approach, it is possible to implant 24 extracellular electrodes on the serosal surface of the intestines without interfering with its normal physiology. This approach makes it possible to study the electrical activities of the GI system at high resolution in vivo in the conscious animal.

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The enigmatic electrical slow wave: A mirror on 100 years of research in gut motility

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Temporal and spatial rhythmicity of jejunal wall motion in rats

Temporal and spatial rhythmicity of jejunal wall motion in rats

Interstitial cells of Cajal – their role in pacing and signal transmission in the digestive system

Mapping slow waves and spikes in chronically instrumented conscious dogs: implantation techniques and recordings

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