The Involvement of GABA in the Modulation of the Rhythm of Electrical Activity in the Small Intestine during Food Deprivation.

In experiments on male Wistar rats, the stages of adaptive changes in the rhythm of periodic electrical activity in the small intestine during food deprivation were identified and the effect of GABA on changes of the rhythm under these conditions was assessed. It was found that on days 1-3 of food deprivation, the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in the small intestine is preserved, but the cycle becomes rarer. On days 4-6, MMC disappears, irregular and regular activity with no periods of quiescence is recorded. On days 7-9, predominantly irregular activity of the small intestine with short quiescence periods is observed. Enteral administration of GABA at different stages of food deprivation modulates electrical activity and preserves small intestinal MMC.