Regional- and agonist-dependent facilitation of human neurogastrointestinal functions by motilin receptor agonists.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Delayed gastric emptying is poorly managed. Motilin agonists are potential treatments but inadequate understanding into how enteric nerve functions are stimulated compromises drug/dose selection. Resolution is hampered by extreme species dependency so methods were developed to study human gastrointestinal neuromuscular activities and the neurobiology of motilin.

Experimental approach

Protocols to study neuromuscular activities were developed for different regions of human stomach and intestine (71 patients) using circular muscle preparations and electrical field stimulation (EFS) of intrinsic nerves. Other tissues were fixed for immunohistochemistry.

Key results

EFS evoked contractions and/or relaxations via cholinergic and nitrergic neurons, wi

SUBMITTER: Broad J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3575777 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature