A scintigraphic method for the assessment of intraluminal volume and motility of isolated intestinal segments.

The isolated in vivo intestinal segment is a popular experimental preparation for the investigation of intestinal function, but its value has been limited because no method has been available for measuring changes in intraluminal volume under experimental conditions. We report a scintigraphic technique for measuring intraluminal volume and assessing intestinal motility. Between 30 and 180 ml, the volume of a 75-cm segment of canine jejunum, perfused with Tc-99m-labeled tin colloid, was found to be proportional to the recorded count rate. This method has been used to monitor the effects of the hormone vasopressin on intestinal function.