Mesenteric afferent nerves convey information from the gastrointestinal tract towards the brain regarding normal homeostasis as well as pathophysiology. Gastrointestinal afferent nerve activity can be assessed by mounting isolated intestinal segments with attached afferent nerves into an organ bath, isolating the nerve, and assessing basal as well as stimulated activity.
Nullens, S., Deiteren, A., Jiang, W., Keating, C., Ceuleers, H., Francque, S., Grundy, D., De Man, J. G., De Winter, B. Y. In Vitro Recording of Mesenteric Afferent Nerve Activity in Mouse Jejunal and Colonic Segments. J. Vis. Exp. (116), e54576, doi:10.3791/54576 (2016).