In vitro culture of rabbit esophageal epithelial cells.

An in vitro model using esophageal epithelial explant cultures has been developed. Esophageal mucosa from New Zealand white rabbits was cut into 1.5-mm2 sections and fixed to a plastic petri dish using chick plasma.

Responses of feline esophagus to cervical vagal stimulation.

We used an in vivo feline model to study striated and smooth-muscle esophageal responses to cervical vagal stimulation (VS). Circular esophageal contractions were measured by intraluminal pressure sensors and longitudinal contractions by a force transducer. Responses to VS were recorded before and after giving succinylcholine, atropine, or both.

Improved infusion system for intraluminal esophageal manometry.

An improved catheter infusion system is needed for esophageal intraluminal manometry. Using conventional syringe-pump infusion systems undesirably rapid infusion rates of 6 ml per min or more are often needed to achieve accurate recording of esophageal peristaltic pressure. These rapid base line infusion rates are necessitated by the high compliance of syringe-pump systems which causes substantial reduction in the infusion rate during dynamic pressure transients.

Quantitation of pharyngeal motor function in normal human subjects.

A need exists for accurate pressure recording of pharyngeal motor events. Results of this study indicate that accurate quantitation of pharyngeal motor activity is not possible using a water-filled catheter system, even when high infusion rates are used. An intraluminal strain gauge system, however, achieves high-fidelity recording.