A complex avian intestinal motility response to fasting
Clench, M.H.; Mathias, J.R.
American Journal of Physiology 262(3 Pt 1): G498-G504
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 1550238 Document Number: 402706
The rhythmic oscillating complex (ROC) is described from a series of experiments that surveyed the myoelectric activity of the avian small intestine as recorded from chronically implanted bipolar electrodes. A highly organized myoelectric event in the fasting avian small intestine, the ROC is demonstrated in detail in chickens (Gallus); it is also found in other gallinaceous birds but not in owls (Strix) or mammals. The ROC comprises rapidly propagating bursts of spike potentials (SPBs) that occur in a regular and predictable pattern: single orad SPBs alternate with groups of aborad SPBs. An average ROC in a chicken contains a mean of 78.9 .+-. 2.0 (mean .+-. SE) SPBSs (37% orad, 63% aborad) that rapidly traverse the full length of the small intestine. The aborad SPBs move at mean velocities of 25.0 .+-. 0.5 cm/s and last a mean of 0.9 .+-. 0.0 s an electrode site; the orad SPBs are faster (41.2 .+-. 2.3 cm/s) and longer in duration (1.3 .+-. 0.0 s). ROC activity continues for a mean of 7.6 .+-. 0.2 min. ROCs occur only in a well-fasted gut as often as every 3 h and apparently for as long as the bird remains without food. Because ROCs restimulate fed-state activity in the stomach and small intestine, we hypothesize that they recycle nutritive material for further digestive activity in the distal tract.