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The effects of alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic blockade on gastric evacuation and small bowel propulsion 15 hours after standardized laparotomy were evaluated. No retardation of gastric evacuation after the laparotomy appeared when alpha-receptor blocking treatment with phenoxybenzamine was instituted. Beta-receptor blocking treatment with propranolol did not prevent the retardation of gastric evacuation after the laparotomy. The time of analysis, 15 hours after the laparotomy, seemed to coincide with the period of resumption of normal small bowel propulsion.

Gastric evacuation and small bowel propulsion were greatly retarded two hours after laparotomy in the rat. Adrenal demedullation, chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine or treatment with a cholinesterase inhibitor (Neostigmin), an alpha-receptor blocker (Dibenyline) or metoclopramide (Primperan) did not improve the gastric evacuation. Chemical sympathectomy or treatment with metoclopramide, however, significantly improved small bowel propulsion. A significant reflux of duodenal contents to the stomach was found in several animals treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor or subjected to adrenal demedullation.

The effect of chemical sympathectomy on gastric evacuation and small bowel propulsion 15 hours after a standardized laparotomy was evaluated. The animals were pre-treated with 50 mg/kg i. v. of 6-hydroxydopamine 15 or 48 hours or 150 mg/kg 48 hours before the evaluation of gastrontestinal propulsion. The treatment did not prevent the postoperative retardation. On the contrary 6-hydroxydopamine in itself seemed to retard gastrointestinal propulsion. In simultaneously adrenal demedullated rats no further retardation was produced by the laparotomy.