Effects of erythromycin on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon of dairy cows

The effects of erythromycin on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon of dairy cows were investigated in a prospective study. Four Simmental x Red-Holstein crossbred cows of similar body weight and condition with seven pairs of bipolar electrodes implanted in the intestine (one each in the distal ileum, caecum and proximal colon, and four in the spiral colon) were included. Erythromycin lactobionate (1 mg kg(-1)) and 0.9% sodium chloride solution (NaCl) were administered to each cow in a random order. Erythromycin was diluted with NaCl and both treatments were administered slowly intravenously over a period of 5 min 1 h after onset of a phase III of the bovine colonic migrating myoelectric complex (bcMMC). A 3-6-day washout period was scheduled between trials. Significant differences between the results of the treatments were observed for spike duration in phase I as well as for spike duration and duration of spiking activity during phase II of the second bcMMC, which were significantly higher after erythromycin treatment than after NaCl. These findings suggest an indirect effect of erythromycin on colonic motility in cattle.