Influence of refined villikinin on motility of intestinal villi

¹ Department of Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Villikinin is extracted from both canine and human intestinal mucosa. Data are presented to show the influence of crude canine extracts on intestinal villi motility in dogs. By utilizing continuous-flow electrophoresis of the crude materials, highly refined villikinin preparations are made. It is shown that there are no detectable differences in the preparations from the two sources. They do not influence intestinal peristalsis, bile flow, or blood pressure. Villikinin is soluble in water and dilute acid and resists heating up to 100 C. Pepsin and trypsin treatment does not alter its activity. By the use of both crude and refined materials strong support is provided for the concept that villikinin is a specific intestinal hormone.

Key Words: intestinal mucosal extracts • intestinal hormones • human mucosal extract • canine mucosal extract

Submitted on October 7, 1964