In this study, we used a high-fidelity manometric recording system to quantitate the effects of atropine on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and primary peristalsis (1 degree P). A sleeve sensor recorded LES pressure, and seven recording orifices spaced at 3-cm intervals registered motor activity in the esophageal body. Five randomized manometric studies were done in each of five normal subjects. LES pressure and 1 degree P with wet swallows were recorded for 30 min before and 70 min after intravenous injection of saline or atropine, 3, 6, 12, and 24 micrograms/kg. We also studied the effect of atropine on LES pressure in five additional subjects, four dogs, four opossums, and six monkeys. In humans, saline and 3 micrograms/kg atropine caused no significant change in pulse rate, LES pressure, or the incidence of complete peristaltic sequences. The 6, 12, and 24 micrograms/kg atropine doses caused significant inhibition of LES pressure and the incidence of intact 1 degree P. Only the 12 and 24 micrograms/kg doses increased pulse rate. When 1 degree P occurred in the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus its appearance in the proximal portion of the smooth muscle segment was delayed for several seconds. The amplitude of 1 degree P was decreased 30-60% in the smooth muscle segment, but 1 degree P was not affected in the proximal striated muscle esophageal segment. Atropine reduced canine LES pressure substantially but caused no change in opossums or monkeys. We conclude that 1) basal LES tone in humans and dogs, unlike that of the opossum and monkey, is partially generated by cholinergic neural input, 2) cholinergic nerves elicit 1 degree P in human esophageal smooth muscle, and 3) species variation exists in esophageal responses to atropine.

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The opossum has served as a useful animal model for in vivo studies of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function. Previous investigations, however, have been confined to studies on anesthetized animals. In 10 opossums we investigated LES pressure during fasting cycles of the gastrointestinal migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and examined the influences of anesthesia and feeding on LES pressure. Intraluminal pressure from the esophageal body, LES, and gastric antrum was recorded by a manometric assembly that incorporated a sleeve device. Myoelectric activity was recorded from the gastric antrum and duodenum via implanted electrodes. MMCs were readily recorded from all animals. MMC cycle length was 86 +/- 2.9 (SE) min. The LES exhibited cyclic changes in intraluminal pressure that occurred in synchrony with the gastric MMC cycle. During phase I of the gastric MMC cycle, LES pressure was essentially stable, although intermittent spontaneous oscillations at 3-4/min were sometimes noted. Forceful phasic LES contraction started during phase II of the gastric MMC, became maximal during phase III, and disappeared during phase I. The MMC-related phasic LES contraction occurred at a maximal rate of 1.4 +/- 0.05/min with amplitudes of 60-150 mmHg and were temporally associated with spike bursts and contractions in the gastric antrum. Pentobarbital sodium-induced anesthesia abolished MMC-related phasic LES activity and caused a transient rise in basal sphincter pressure. Phasic LES activity was also inhibited by atropine and feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Tonic and phasic pressures at the canine ileocolonic sphincter (ICS) were recorded by a manometric assembly that combined a sleeve sensor with multiple side-hole pressure ports. By aligning the side holes precisely it was possible to evaluate in vivo the fidelity of the sleeve relative to simultaneous pressure records from the point sensors. The ICS exhibited tonic and phasic pressures, often in excess of 100 cmH2O of pressure. The sleeve sensor was tolerant of small, but potentially important, movements of the assembly relative to the ICS. Point sites of recording moved in and out of the high-pressure zone and side holes were, therefore, not ideal sensors of sphincteric tone. The anticipated properties of this sleeve, that it would display reduced fidelity for rapid changes in pressure at sites away from its point of perfusion, were confirmed in vivo. The sleeve also "summarized" phasic bursts and was unable to monitor propagation of such events. However, the combined assembly proved excellent for examining overall function of the canine ICS.