Abstract
Developmental changes in gastrointestinal motility are poorly understood in the human. We have utilized the infant Rhesus to investigate developmental responses of the distal colon to feeding.
Colonic myoelectric activity in 3 newborn (<24 hrs), 6 infant (ages: 4-7 mos) and 6 adult Rhesus was studied using intraluminal Ag-AgCI electrodes. Slow waves and spike potentials were recorded during fasting and following administration of liquid meal of 10 cc/kg of infant formula (6.7 cal/kg). Slow wave frequency spectra were determined from Fast Fourier transforms (FFT) of digitized signals; spike activity by visual analysis of paper recordings. Results: 1) both infant and adults exhibit increased colonic spike activity within 10 - 15 min following feeding, compared to fasting periods. 2) Newborns show a significantly reduced spike response to feeding compared to older animals (2.3 vs 14.2 mean spikes / 5 min, p <.05) at 15 minutes postprandial. 3) Slow wave activity is well developed at 24 hours of age; frequency spectra are similar in all age groups following a meal.
Conclusions: Infant rhesus manifest increases in meal stimulated colonic spiking similar to that seen in human adults. Newborns exhibit a diminished spike response to feeding even though slow wave activity is well defined. This decreased spike response may account for altered colonic motility during adaptation to enteral nutrition.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cannon, R., Meadows, J. & Cheung, A. DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN COLONIC MYOELECTRIC ACTIVITY IN THE INFANT PRIMATE. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 210 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00264
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00264