Commentary
See article on page 30A little rest and relaxation
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
In healthy subjects and in patients with mild to moderate gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux occurs mainly during transient lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) relaxations.1-3 Transient LOS relaxations are a neural reflex, organised in the brain stem, with efferent and afferent pathways travelling in the vagus nerve.3 Distention of the proximal stomach is a major trigger for the reflex to occur, although stimulation of the pharynx or the larynx may also contribute.3 It is clear that the initiation of the reflex requires activation of gastric mechanoreceptors.
Because of their pivotal role in the occurrence of
gastro-oesophageal reflux, the neurophysiology and pharmacology of
transient LOS relaxations are topics of intense ongoing research.
Atropine is one of the drugs that were recently shown to inhibit
gastro-oesophageal reflux by inhibiting transient LOS
relaxations.4 It is unclear if atropine is acting at the
level of the stomach, by altering the mechanosensitivity of the
proximal stomach,
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- Effect of atropine on proximal gastric motor and sensory function in normal subjects
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Gut 2000 47: 30-36.[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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