Antroduodenal motor response induced by (Gln4)-neurotensin in man

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of (Gln4)-neurotensin on antroduodenal motor activity was investigated in 7 healthy volunteers. Motor activity was monitored by measuring the intraluminal pressure in the antrum, and in the proximal and middle part of the duodenum. Infusion of (Gln4)-neurotensin (6 pmol .times. kg-1 .times. min-1) for 20 min significantly increased the number of contractions in the duodenum, from 13.8 .+-. 1.1 to 33.2 .+-. 3.0 contractions .times. 5 min-1, and changed the motility pattern in the duodenum to irregular pressure waves similar to those seen after the ingestion of food. The contractile activity (amplitude .times. number of contractions) in the antrum and duodenum changed significantly from 230 .+-. 29 to 148 .times. 39 and from 288 .+-. 21 to 556 .times. 62 mm Hg .times. 5 min-1, respectively, despite the fact that the baseline pressure gradient was unchanged. The number of antral contractions migrating to the duodenum was significantly reduced from 3.3 .+-. 0.4 to 0.1 .+-. 0.1 contractions .times. 5 min-1 and their velocity was also significantly decreased, from 18.2 .+-. 1.7 to 11.1 .+-. 1.7 mm .times. s-1. The concentration of p-NTLI [neurotensin-like immunoreactivity] rose from 39 .+-. 11 pM to a maximum of 150 .+-. 14 pM at 20 min; these latter levels are within the range found after a fatty meal. (Gln4)-Neurotensin changes antroduodenal motility to a pattern seen after a meal. Apparently neurotensin, or a neurotensin metabolite, may carry the information to the antroduodenal area to decrease the rate of gastric emptying after a fatty meal.