In previous reports, anastomosis has been shown to disrupt the myoelectric activity of the bowel. However, these studies have failed to delineate the role of the extrinsic nerves. Using an isolated bowel segment (IBS) and an amesenteric bowel segment (ABS), motility was evaluated by myoelectric recording across a bowel anastomosis. Ten rats were divided equally into the experimental group with the IBS and the control group with the ABS. In the IBS group, an 8-cm segment of jejunum was divided, reanastomosed, and coapted to the liver margin (lowa model II). In the ABS group, an 8-cm segment of jejunum was coapted to the liver margin without disruption of bowel continuity (lowa modell II variant). Two weeks later, bipolar electrodes were implanted in the IBS and ABS, and normal jejunum in both groups. Mesenteric division (MD) was performed 4 weeks later to eliminate extrinsic innervation. Myoelectrical recordings were taken 2 weeks before and after MD. In the control group with IBS, incoordination in the propagation of the migrating motor complex (MMC) and reduction in the frequency of slow waves (FSW) were observed across the anastomosis and were unchanged by MD. In the control group with the ABS, the MMC and FSW were identical to that in the normal jejunum and were unaffected by MD. In both group postprandial inhibition of the MMC was the same as in the normal jejunum and was unaffected by MD. This study confirms that incoordination in propagation of the MMC and reduction in FSW occur across a bowel anastomosis, and elimination of extrinsic innervation does not affect the autonomy of these changes. Postprandial inhibition of the MMC does not appear to be affected by intramural discontinuity or elimination of extrinsic innervation. © 1992 W.B. Saunders Company. All right reserved.
