Fig. 3

Effect of thoracic intrathecal or intravenous administration of somatostatin on colorectal motility. Representative recording traces of intraluminal pressure change (upper) and blood pressure (lower) before and after a thoracic intrathecal and b intravenous application of somatostatin (6 nmol) are shown. In both administration routes, somatostatin failed to enhance colorectal motility. Bar graphs summarize c expelled liquid volume (ml/20 min) and d frequency of contractions (contractions/20 min) after saline injection and after somatostatin (6 nmol) injection. Each value represents the mean ± SD (n = 5). Blood pressure was greatly increased by somatostatin injected into the thoracic spinal cord but not by somatostatin injected into the vein. e Quantitative data of increase of blood pressure caused by somatostatin (6 nmol) injection into the lumbo-sacral spinal cord, thoracic spinal cord and vein (n = 5). *Significantly different between two groups (P < 0.05)