Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and serum motilin levels

Abstract
The gastrointestinal hormone motilin has recently been proposed as having a physiological role in the determination of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) strength. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of gastric alkalinization on LES pressure and serum motilin levels. Instillation of 0.1N NaHCO3 into the stomach resulted in a significant increase in LES pressure (Pr=−0.31). These observations do not support the theory that LES pressure increases during gastric alkalinization are mediated through motilin release.