System and Methodology to Study and Stimulate Gastric Electrical Activity in Small Freely Behaving Animals

Abstract

Aim: To develop and validate a system that can wirelessly acquire gastric slow waves and deliver electrical pulses to the stomach. Materials & methods: The system is composed of a front-end and a back-end unit connected to a computer, which runs a custom-made graphical user interface. The system was validated on benchtop and in vivo studies. Results: Benchtop validation showed an appropriate frequency response to acquire slow waves. Moreover, the system was able to deliver electrical pulses at amplitudes up to ±10 mA. Slow wave activity recorded from the stomach of rats was in the range of approximately five cycles per minute (cpm). Pulses delivered to the stomach of a rat every 15 s and reduced the activity to 4 cpm during the stimulation period. Conclusion: This study reports the first wireless system and methodology that can be used to acquire slow waves and deliver electrical stimulation to the stomach of small freely behaving animals.

An Inductively Powered Implantable System to Study the Gastrointestinal Electrophysiology in Freely Behaving Rodents

“…In the context of system implantation in rodents, we will use cardiac pacing wires for the electrodes of the recording and stimulation circuits. Both pairs of electrodes will be sutured onto the serosa of the GI tract and directly fixed by a surgical knot [ 44 ].…”