The effect of motilin on the regulation mechanism of intestinal motility in conscious horses.

The researchers are studying how motilin, a gastrointestinal hormone, affects the movement of the intestines in horses. They found that it tends to increase contractions, particularly in the upper part of the small intestine.

Experiment Setup

• The experiment was conducted on seven thoroughbred horses. In order to accurately measure the movement in their intestines, a surgical procedure known as a laparotomy was performed. This involved making a large incision in the abdomen to access the abdominal organs.
• A force transducer, which is a device that converts energy into force, was attached to various parts of the intestines. This included the proximal jejunum (the upper part of the mid-section of the small intestine), the distal jejunum (the lower part of the mid-section of the small intestine), and ileum (the last part of the small intestine), as well as the serous membrane of the cecum (a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine).

Observation of Intestinal Motility

• The researchers first observed the natural movement of the intestines in the conscious horses, without any interference.
• They noticed that strong contractions were commonly observed in the small intestine, which is a typical characteristic in horses.

Introduction of Motilin

• To study the effect of motilin on these intestinal movements, the researchers then intravenously injected the horses with motilin in a controlled dosage.
• They found that the introduction of motilin caused strong contractions, particularly in the proximal jejunum.

Conclusion of the Study

• The outcome of this research suggested that motilin plays a role in the regulation mechanism of intestinal motility, especially in horses.
• This could mean that it could possibly be used in the treatment of gastrointestinal issues in animals, particularly those that involve a lack of movement or contractions in the intestines.