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Myoelectric recordings from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in conscious animals have been limited in duration and site. Recently, we have implanted 24 electrodes and obtained electrograms from these sites simultaneously (200 Hz sampling rate; 1.1 MB/min data stream). An automated electrogram analysis was developed to process this large amount of data. Myoelectrical recordings from the GI tract often consist of slow wave deflections followed by one or more action potentials (=spike deflections) in the same traces. To analyze these signals, a first module separates the signal into one containing only slow waves and a second one containing only spikes. The timings of these waveforms were then detected, in real time, for all 24 electrograms, in a separate slow wave detection module and a separate spike-detection module. Basic statistics such as timing and amplitudes and the number of spikes per slow wave were performed and displayed on-line. In summary, with this online analysis, it is possible to study for long periods of time and under various experimental conditions major components of gastrointestinal motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited data available on the electrical activity of the rectum. An in vivo canine model was developed to record 240 extracellular electrograms simultaneously from the serosal surface of the rectum thereby enabling an off-line reconstruction of the behaviour of the electrical signals. Serosal rectal electrical activity is characterized by brief bursts of action potentials (=spikes) with a frequency of 22 cycles min−1. High-resolution mapping of these signals revealed predominant propagation of these spikes in the longitudinal direction, originating from any site and conducted for a limited time and length before stopping spontaneously, thereby describing a patch of activity. The dimension of the patches in the longitudinal direction was significantly longer than the transversal width (13.6 vs 2.4 mm; P < 0.001). Spike propagation could occur in the aboral (46% of cases), in the oral (34%) or in both directions (20%). A bolus of betanechol (i.v., 0.5 mg kg−1) increased the frequency of the spikes without affecting size, shape or orientation of the patches. As in other parts of the gastrointestinal system, individual spike propagation in the rectum is limited to small areas or patches. The contractile activity of the organ could possibly reflect this underlying pattern of electrical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myoelectric recordings from the intestines in conscious animals have been limited to a few electrode sites with relatively large inter-electrode distances. The aim of this project was to increase the number of recording sites to allow high-resolution reconstruction of the propagation of myoelectrical signals. Sets of six unipolar electrodes, positioned in a 3×2 array, were constructed. A silver ring close to each set served as the reference electrodes. Inter-electrode distances varied from 4 to 8 mm. Electrode sets, to a maximum of 4, were implanted in various configurations allowing recording from 24 sites simultaneously. Four sets of 6 electrodes each were implanted successfully in 11 female Beagles. Implantation sites evaluated were the upper small intestine ( n=10), the lower small intestine ( n=4) and the stomach ( n=3). The implants remained functional for 7.2 months (median; range 1.4–27.3 months). Recorded signals showed slow waves at regular intervals and spike potentials. In addition, when the sets were positioned close together, it was possible to re-construct the propagation of individual slow waves, to determine their direction of propagation and to calculate their propagation velocity. No signs or symptoms of interference with normal GI-function were observed in the tested animals. With this approach, it is possible to implant 24 extracellular electrodes on the serosal surface of the intestines without interfering with its normal physiology. This approach makes it possible to study the electrical activities of the GI system at high resolution in vivo in the conscious animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]