SUMMARY Recordings of transmural potential difference (PD) across the jejunum of conscious man in situ are characterised by spontaneous fluctuations of up to 10 mV. In 25 of 31 subjects (comprising seven normal controls and 24 patients under investigation for malabsorption, six of whom had coeliac disease) we observed a clear association between these fluctuations and changes in intraluminal pressure recorded at the same site. The most frequent PD changes were associated with type III pressure waves. These consisted predominantly of large waves (3.1 + 0 1 mV; mean + SEM, n = 317) which reached maximal amplitude approximately 45 seconds after the pressure peak and had a duration of 120 + 3 s, but also included less frequent spikes (0 5 + 0.1 mV; n = 110) concurrent with the pressure wave with a duration of 5 + 1 s. Although by recording at two sites in the jejunum 10 cm apart we were able to demonstrate that the type III pressure waves appeared to be propagated aborally at a median rate of 60 cm per minute, the apparent rates of propagation of the corresponding PD waves were much more variable. The largest PD changes (7i8 + 0 4 mV; n = 19), lasting several minutes, were found in association with runs of type I waves (basic rhythm) superimposed on a type III wave. Both pressure and PD activities were suppressed by intramuscular propantheline bromide. Intraluminal pilocarpine caused a transient rise in PD not always accompanied by a change in pressure. Distension of the jejunum by rapid injection of a bolus of isotonic sodium chloride produced a delayed rise in the PD which could be prevented by prior administration of propantheline bromide. Experiments usingThiryVella loops of proximal jejunum in conscious dogs confirmed the effect of jejunal distension on the PD and also demonstrated that spontaneous retching is preceded by an increase in the PD.Consideration of these results in conjunction with data from other workers suggests the hypothesis that the larger spontaneous fluctuations in transmural PD in the jejunum of conscious man are caused by changes in electrogenic secretion associated with intestinal motility and mediated by cholinergic mechanisms. The possible association of increased secretory activity with motility may have functions of lubrication as well as diluting and mixing the chyme for easier digestion and absorption.Several studies have noted that recordings of trans-changes have been a major obstacle to the investigamural PD in the human jejunum in situ are unstable tion of enterocyte transfer processes by electrical (Fordtran et al., 1968;Wingate et al., 1973; Read et methods. Our observation that propantheline al., 1974), being characterised by irregular fluctua-bromide (Pro-Banthine) inhibits these fluctuations tions which can last for several minutes and attain (Read et al., 1974; indicated that they may be amplitudes of 10 mV. These apparently spontaneous related to intestinal motility, which is also inhibited by this drug. We have investigated this possibility by pressure at the same site i...