Phase lock of electrical slow waves and spike bursts in cat duodenum.

The phase relationship between slow waves and spike bursts was studied in vitro in the cat duodenum. Electrodes were arranged radially about the duodenum. Records were read for T1, the time between the slow-wave "valley" and the first spike, and T2, the time between successive valleys. The distributions of the ratio T1/T2 showed very small differences, not uniquely attributable to radial electrode position. The distribution of T1/T2 indicated that spike bursts began 58.8% of the way through a slow-wave cycle, measured from the valley. Also, electrodes were arranged longitudinally and records were read to determine deltaSW, the slow-wave delay time between adjacent electrode positions, and deltaS, the spike burst delay time between adjacent electrode positions. The correlation of deltaS and deltaSW suggested a linear relation, and a regression resulted in a good linear description. These results are consistent with an assumed phase lock of spike bursts to slow waves.