Mechanical characteristics of phase II and phase III of the interdigestive migrating motor complex in dogs.

In conscious dogs certain parameters of the jejunal interdigestive phase II and phase III activity were studied by means of closely spaced strain gauges and videofluoroscopy. During phase III the frequency, force, and rise time of contractions and the contraction spread were increased, whereas the intercontractile intervals and the propagation velocity of contractions were diminished in comparison to phase II. The contraction waves of phase III were variable with regard to their length of spread and their rate of caudad migration. These two parameters adjusted the duration, the propagation velocity, and the length of the activity front. Propagation of contractions was sometimes interrupted by periods of uncoupling. Propagation velocities within contraction waves varied according to the pattern slow-fast-slow-fast, producing the videofluoroscopically observed roller coaster movements of the luminal contents. It is concluded that phase II and phase III are characterized not only by the occurrence of irregular and regular activity but by a significant change of a number of contraction parameters.