Conduction of activity between muscles in the terminal region of the common bile duct and in the neighboring duodenum

The relationship between muscle activity at the terminal region of the common bile duct and the duodenal muscle was examined in rabbits. The rhythmic muscle activity in the terminal region was synchronous with duodenal muscle activity. The activity of the latter muscle preceded the former. The activity at the terminal region synchronous with the rhythmic activity of the duodenal muscle sometimes disappeared spontaneously. The muscle activity of the ampulla and the spincter at the terminal region was sometimes independently lost. The conduction of excitation from the duodenal muscle to the terminal region appeared to be performed at several sites. The existence of a "conduction-shunt path" between the terminal region and the duodenum, as well as between the ampulla and the sphincter appeared probably. Some quantitative differences were found between the spincter, ampulla and duodenum in inhibitory effects to stimulation of splanchnic nerves and reflex effects and to excitatory effects of cholecystokinin-pancreoxymin and caerulein. These results seem to indicate that the sympathetic nerves and the intramural cholinergic neurones controlling these region carry out activities quantitatively different from each other.