On the control of caecal motility in sheep.

The electrical activity of the terminal ileum and of the caecum was recorded continuously from chronically implanted electrodes in 8 ewes fed on hay ad libitum. The caecum even as an isolated pouch showed a cyclic activity closely linked tho the frequency of myoelectric complexes on the terminal ileum. This phenomenon disappeared in the absence of myoelectric complexes. The distention of an isolated caecal pouch induced local changes in the electrical activity with disappearance of the cyclic activity. It is concluded that two factors are involved in the control of caecal motility, one originating at the distal ileum and the other related to the endoluminal pressure.