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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2007; 13(9): 1393-1398
Published online Mar 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i9.1393
A framework for the modeling of gut blood flow regulation and postprandial hyperaemia
Adam David Jeays, Patricia Veronica Lawford, Richard Gillott, Paul A Spencer, Karna Dev Bardhan, David Rodney Hose
Adam David Jeays, Patricia Veronica Lawford, David Rodney Hose, Medical Physics, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Richard Gillott, Paul A Spencer, Karna Dev Bardhan, Rotherham General Hospital, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Bardhan Research and Educational Trust
Correspondence to: Adam David Jeays, Medical Physics, I Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Rd, Sheffield, S10 2JF, United Kingdom. a.jeays@sheffield.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-114-2712234 Fax: +44-114-2713403
Received: December 9, 2006
Revised: December 25, 2006
Accepted: January 17, 2007
Published online: March 7, 2007
Abstract

After a meal the activity of the gut increases markedly as digestion takes place. Associated with this increase in activity is an increase in blood flow, which has been shown to be dependent on factors such as caloric content and constitution of the meal. Much qualitative work has been carried out regarding mechanisms for the presence of food in a section of gut producing increased blood flow to that section, but there are still many aspects of this process that are not fully understood. In this paper we briefly review current knowledge on several relevant areas relating to gut blood flow, focusing on quantitative data where available and highlighting areas where further research is needed. We then present new data on the effect of feeding on flow in the superior mesenteric artery. Finally, we describe a framework for combining this data to produce a single model describing the mechanisms involved in postprandial hyperaemia. For a section of the model, where appropriate data are available, preliminary results are presented.

Keywords: Modeling; Small intestine; Superior mesen-teric artery; Blood flow