Intravenous infusion of erythromycin enhances the interdigestive migrating motor complex in dogs

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-3402.2001.01.001

Abstract：Aims To observe the effect of intravenous injection oferythromycin (EM) on interdigestive migrating motor complex (MMC) and postprandial gastrointestinal contraction in conscious dogs. Methods Gastrointestinal contractile activity was recorded using low compliance capillary water perfusion manometric system. EM was administered intravenously during phaseⅠand after meal, and blood samples were drawn for measuring plasma motilin concentrations. Results (1) Plasma motilin levels showed cyclical fluctuations in different phases of MMC, and plasma motilin reached peak during phaseⅢ and lowest during phaseⅠ.(2) EM induced phaseⅢ-like contractions in the antrum and duodenum, which was not accompanied by a peak in plasma motilin level. The optimum dose of EM for resulting in a premature phaseⅢ with the same characteristics as the spontaneously occurring phaseⅢ was established to be 0.5 mg.kg-1. The dose of 10 mg.kg-1 EM induced gastrointestinal continuous contractions and duodeno-gastric retrograde peristalsis which was associated with retching and vomiting. (3) Atropine obviously inhibited EM-induced phaseⅢ activity in the antrum and duodenum. Conclusions EM is a potent prokinetic agent, which is promising for treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction diseases. The mechanism by which EM induced gastrointestinal contractions is not related to the release of motilin, but may be mediated partially by cholinergic pathway.