Gradients of Serotoninergic Innervation of the Large Intestine

Experiments were performed on nembutal-narcotized rabbits. To study motor activity of the large intestine stimulation was applied to the right vagus nerve and left sympathetic trunk, as well as to the right pelvic nerve and left sympathetic trunk. We found a decreasing gradient of serotoninergic innervation from the ascending colon to the transverse colon and rectum (45–50, 30–35, and 25–30%, respectively) during simultaneous stimulation of the sympathetic trunk and vagus nerve and an increasing gradient of serotoninergic innervation in the large intestine during simultaneous stimulation of the sympathetic trunk and pelvic nerve. Stimulation of serotoninergic fibers was accompanied by arterial spasm in the microcirculatory bed and venous congestion.