Spatiotemporal mapping of the motility of the isolated chicken caecum

Abstract

We studied the caecal contractile activity of the chicken (Gallus gallus) using single caeca that had been cannulated at their proximal and distal ends, and in paired caeca, maintained in situ on excised segments of gut that were cannulated at the colonic and small intestinal ends. Longitudinal and circular contractile patterns were characterised using high-definition spatiotemporal mapping. Low amplitude longitudinal contraction waves of frequency 14.1 cycles/min occurred in the absence of major contractile events. These were termed fast phasic and appeared to be mediated by slow waves. The nature of major spontaneous contractions occurring in the single caecum varied with the level of caecal distension. Type A contractions occurred when the caecum was not distended, originated from variable sites and propagated in both directions. Type B or C contractile events occurred when the caecum was moderately or fully distended, originated from a predominantly distal site and propagated proximally. On diameter maps, each type B event comprised a succession of contractions which had similar propagation speeds, frequency and direction to fast phasic contractions. Type C events were comprised of a succession of higher amplitude contractions with no appreciable propagation. Perfusion of saline via the colon resulted in fluid entering both caeca and the onset of aborad contractions in their proximal canals. Saline was also seen to flow between caeca during contractile events however no saline was seen to enter the small intestine as has been postulated by other workers.

Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharides on Broiler Chicken Performance and Microbiota

“…Our in vivo study showed a significant increase of the lactate-producing species Lactobacillus crispatus in the colon and the lactate-utilizing butyrate-producing species Anaerostipes butyraticus in the cecum. The lactic acid produced by L. crispatus in the colon may reach the cecum and become available for A. butyraticus due to antiperistalsis (55,56). The in vitro fermentation assay showed that reference strains of both species metabolized XOS, resulting in production of high concentrations of lactic acid by L. crispatus, which were thought to be consumed by the butyrate-producing bacterium A. butyraticus.…”

Quantification of the Effects of the Volume and Viscosity of Gastric Contents on Antral and Fundic Activity in the Rat Stomach Maintained Ex Vivo

“…The mean velocities of propagation of sets of ten cropped consecutive contractile events were determined from their slopes on autocorrelated maps [39]. Similarly, the frequency of contractile events was calculated from the vertical distance (y) between consecutive events on the autocorrelated maps.…”

Cecal drop reflects the chickens' cecal microbiome, fecal drop does not

“…Several times a day the ceca contract, pushing their content in two directions: towards the ileum and towards the cloaca, excreting a cecal drop (Herrick and Edgar, 1947;Clench, 1999;Janssen et al, 2009). The ceca fill again by use of peristaltic and antiperistaltic contractions at their entrances (Fenna and Boag, 1974).…”