A NEW METHOD - DOUBLE THIRY-VELLA FISTULAS IN RATS TO COMPARE THE EFFECTS OF SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINAL STIMULATION ON BEHAVIOR

A new method for comparing the effects of small and large intestinal m echanical stimulation was developed. Isolated intestinal loops were cr eated by the Thiry-Vella method from the lower duodenal-upper jejunal, and from the upper colonic portion of the gut, respectively. This pre paration allows parallel evaluation of stimulation effects and affects from both the small and the large intestine of the same animal. A bal loon could be inserted into the isolated loops before each experimenta l session and removed afterward. Behavioral thresholds to changes in t he volume of the gut were recorded and compared in the two loops. No e ssential differences between the two portions of the intestinal tract were detected by this method.