[Observations on the gastrointestinal movements of the tortoise (Geoclemys reevesii) by means of the abdominal-window-technique].

In the tortoise the gastrointestinal movements were observed utilizing the abdominal-window-technique. The results obtained were summarized as follows: (1) So far as the intestine was exposed to the atmosphere both in vivo and in vitro, the intestine was motionless in most cases. On the other hand, the abdominal-window-technique proved to be very useful to observe the gastrointestinal movements. (2) The operation was carried out under the aseptic precaution as follows: First the back of the animal was removed at its left side to make a retangular window of 8 X 1.5-4 cm, then ovaries and fallopian tubes on the left side were removed and lastly the window thus formed was covered with a 0.2 mm thick, transparent vinyl-plate, being sutured at its border to the back. In addition, the border of the window plate was firmly sticked to the back by means of adhesives, Aron Alpha A and Araldite. (3) a. In the region of the stomach situated just anal to the cardia contractions (stomach peristalses) recurrently started with a time interval of 21 to 32 sec, sweeping down the wall of the stomach with a velocity of 0.5 to 0.9 mm/sec, until they came to an end at the pylorus. b. In the small intestine, there recurrently occurred contraction waves with a time interval of about 45 seconds, traveling analwards with a velocity of about 0.3 mm/sec. c. In the large intestine, there were observed two kinds of movements, i.e., antiperistalses as well as mass peristalses. In the former contraction waves recurrently started at the anal end (coprodaeum) of the large intestine with a time interval of 18 to 25 sec, propagating oralwards with a velocity of about 1 min/sec, until they waned rapidly to disappear after propagating only a short distance (about 2 to 3 cm). In the latter powerful contractions occasionally started at the uppermost part of the large intestine to propagate analwards at first slowly with a velocity of about 0.15 mm/sec, and then rapidly with a velocity of about 0.5 mm/sec, until they arrived at the proctodaeum to expel a fecal mass 7 to 8 mm thick and 15 mm long.