Effects of nitroglycerin on liquid gastric emptying and antropyloroduodenal motility

• Published in: American journal of physiology: Gastrointestinal and liver physiology Vol. 275; no. 5; pp. G1173 - G1178
• Main Authors: Sun, W.M. (Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.), Doran, S, Jones, K.L, Ooi, E, Boeckxstaens, G, Hebbard, G.S, Lingenfelser, T, Morley, J.E, Dent, J, Horowitz, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1998
• Subjects: ANTRUM; DIGESTION; DUODENUM; ESTOMAC; ESTOMAGO; GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY; HOMBRES; HOMME; INTESTIN; INTESTINES; INTESTINOS; MEN; MOTRICITE GASTROINTESTINALE; MOVILIDAD GASTROINTESTINAL; PYLORUS; STOMACH; STOMACH EMPTYING; nutrient meal; nitric oxide
• ISSN: 0002-9513; 0193-1857; 2163-5773; 1522-1547
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.1998.275.5.g1173

The effects of the nitric oxide donor nitroglycerin on gastric emptying and antropyloroduodenal motility were evaluated in nine healthy male subjects (ages 19–36 yr). Antropyloroduodenal pressures were recorded with a manometric assembly that had nine side holes spanning the antrum and proximal duodenum and a pyloric sleeve sensor; gastric emptying was quantified scintigraphically. In each subject, the emptying of 300 ml of 25% glucose labeled with 99m Tc was assessed on two separate days during intravenous infusion of either nitroglycerin (5 μg/min in 5% dextrose) or 5% dextrose (control). Studies were performed with the subject in the supine position; blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. Nitroglycerin had no significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate. Nitroglycerin slowed gastric emptying ( P < 0.02), and this was associated with greater retention of the drink in the proximal stomach ( P < 0.05). In both nitroglycerin and control studies, ingestion of the drink was associated with an increase in the number of isolated pyloric pressure waves ( P < 0.05) and antral pressure wave sequences ( P < 0.05). Nitroglycerin reduced the number of isolated pyloric pressure waves ( P < 0.05), basal pyloric pressure ( P < 0.05), and the number of antral pressure wave sequences ( P < 0.05), but not the total number of antral pressure waves. The rate of gastric emptying and the number of isolated pyloric pressure waves were inversely related during control ( P = 0.03) and nitroglycerin ( P < 0.05) infusions. We conclude that in normal subjects, 1) gastric emptying of 300 ml of 25% glucose is inversely related to the frequency of phasic pyloric pressure waves, and 2) nitroglycerin in a dose of 5 μg/min inhibits pyloric motility, alters the organization but not the number of antral pressure waves, and slows gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of 25% glucose.