THE CONTENTS OF THE STOMACH, SMALL INTESTINE, CECUM AND COLON OF NORMAL AND FASTING RABBITS

Abstract

Twenty-two normal rabbits were sacrificed and the contents of their stomachs, small intestines, ceca, and colons were removed, weighed, and dried to constant wt. at 100[degree]C. Seven rabbits were allowed to fast without muzzles and the contents of their gastrointestinal tracts were weighed and dried at 100[degree]C. Thirty-five rabbits were fasted with muzzles from 1-11 days and the contents of their tracts were weighed and dried at 100[degree]C. The stomach contents dropped to about 50% of the normal within 24 hrs. after the fast started. Within a few days, the stomach contents consisted of a very small quantity of food particles, water and a mat of hair. The contents of the small intestine decreased as the fast continued, but the viscosity and general appearance of the contents seemed to be fairly constant except that the suspended particles became less as the fast lengthened. The % of dry residue of the intestinal contents was about the same for the 1st and 3d groups. The cecum continued to act as a reservoir. The contents of the colon decreased rapidly for the first two days and was fairly constant up to the 11th day.