Electric activity of gastroduodenal junction

¹ Section of Physiology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

In preparation for a study of the electric activity in the wall of the gastroduodenal junction in unanesthetized trained dogs, the pyloric portion of the stomach (antrum), the pylorus, and the first portion of the duodenum were exteriorized surgically. When the animals were fully recovered, needle electrodes were inserted into the wall of the bowel for the detection of electric activity. The pylorus was found to act as an "electric insulator" between the stomach and the duodenum. The basic electric rhythm (BER) and the fast or spike activity detected in both the pyloric canal and the duodenal bulb became attenuated in the pylorus and usually disappeared in it. The BER of the antrum had a mean frequency of 4.4 cycle/min and spike potentials sometimes were associated with it. The frequency of the BER in the duodenal bulb was the same as in the duodenum but its voltage was less and its form more irregular. Spike potentials in the bulb occurred during a greater portion of the BER and had a greater tendency to distort the BER than in the more distal duodenum.