Plasma motilin concentration and gastric contractile activity in conscious dogs

Abstract

Simultaneous measurements of plasma motilin concentration and gastric contractile activity were made in seven healthy conscious dogs. Plasma motilin concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and gastric contractile activity was recorded by means of chronically implanted force transducers. When gastric contractile activity was in the interdigestive state, it was found that plasma motilin concentration was always elevated in all of the seven dogs. The high plasma concentration of motilin was lowered by ingestion of food and the level of motilin was lasted as long as the gastric motor activity was in the digestive pattern. However, plasma motilin concentration started to increase and returned to the high level again by the time when gastric motor activity was in the interdigestive state. Since the interdigestive contractions were induced by exogenous motilin, it is concluded that the interdigestive motor activity of the stomach is controlled by plasma motilin concentration in the dog.