Functional magnetic stimulation facilitates colonic transit in rats.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) on colonic transit in rats. DESIGN: Experimental. SETTING: Functional magnetic stimulation laboratory in a Veterans Administration health care system. ANIMALS Twenty-four female Wistar rats, divided into an experimental group and a control group. INTERVENTIONS: All rats had technetium 99m (Tc 99m) infused through a cecal catheter to assess colonic transit times. FMS was performed over the cervical region; a figure of 8 magnetic coil was used in the experimental group. The colon was removed and sectioned into 10 segments, and a stool sample was taken in both groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distribution of radioactivity within the large intestine and stool were measured. RESULTS: Geometric center calculations showed significant differences (p <.001) between the control group and the experimental group when the distribution of radioactivity along the colon was measured. The percentage of Tc 99m recovered from the stool in the experimental group was significantly higher than the percentage recovered from the control group. CONCLUSION: FMS facilitates colonic transit in a rat model.