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l-Arginine/nitric oxide pathway modulates gastric motility and gallbladder emptying induced by erythromycin and liquid meal in humans

  • Esophageal, Gastric, And Duodenal Disorders
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Abstract

There is recent evidence that nitric oxide, a soluble gas produced froml-arginine, is released by the smooth muscle cells and neurons of the gastrointestinal tract where it exerts a myorelaxive action. However, little is known about the effects nitric oxide has on gastric and gallbladder motility during the inter- and postprandial phases in man. We therefore investigated the effects 200 mg/kg/hrl-arginine exerts on the gastric and gallbladder motility induced by 2 mg/kg erythromycin or a liquid meal in 21 subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Gastric and gallbladder emptying were evaluated by sonography. Fasting antral motility was expressed as antral motility index (MI). In fasting subjects,l-arginine administration determined a threefold increase in plasma nitrite concentrations. Administration of erythromycin caused a significant rise in the antral MI, which was inhibited byl-arginine (P<0.05). Ingestion of a liquid meal also significantly increased antral MI, but it returned to basal values 90 min after the end of the meal. Althoughl-arginine administration caused a significant reduction in the antral MI (P<0.05), it did not inhibit gastric emptying.l-Arginine provoked an approximately 40% increase in basal gallbladder volume, completely blocked erythromycin-induced emptying, and partially, but significantly, prevented the emptying induced by a liquid meal (P<0.01). Our study suggests that nitric oxide may be implicated in the physiological modulation of gastric and gallbladder motility during the inter-and postprandial phases in man.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Farmacologia e Patologia Clinica di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, University of Perugia, Italy

    Stefano Fiorucci MD, Eleonora Distrutti MD, Adolfo Quintieri MD, Lucio Sarpi MD, Zeno Spirchez MD, Nino Gulla MD & Antonio Morelli MD

  2. Dipartimento di Chirurgia, University of Perugia, Italy

    Stefano Fiorucci MD, Eleonora Distrutti MD, Adolfo Quintieri MD, Lucio Sarpi MD, Zeno Spirchez MD, Nino Gulla MD & Antonio Morelli MD

Authors
  1. Stefano Fiorucci MD
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  2. Eleonora Distrutti MD
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  3. Adolfo Quintieri MD
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  4. Lucio Sarpi MD
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  5. Zeno Spirchez MD
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  6. Nino Gulla MD
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  7. Antonio Morelli MD
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Additional information

Dr. Spirchez is a recipient of a TEMPUS project grant. 3rd Medical Clinic, Croitorilor Str. 7 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

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Fiorucci, S., Distrutti, E., Quintieri, A. et al. l-Arginine/nitric oxide pathway modulates gastric motility and gallbladder emptying induced by erythromycin and liquid meal in humans. Digest Dis Sci 40, 1365–1371 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02065553

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02065553

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