Abstract
We determined the effect of increased bolus consistency on esophageal motor function in 11 healthy volunteer subjects. Further, we sought to define the esophageal response to boluses with a wide range of temperatures in nine healthy volunteers. Intraluminal pressure events were measured with an infused catheter system, and lower esophageal sphincter pressure was monitored continuously with a Dent sleeve. Boluses (10 swallows each) consisting of 5 ml of a solid suspension (yogurt), 5 cm3 of a soft solid (gelatin), and 5 ml of water were given in a randomized order. In a separate study, boluses with temperatures of 1° C, 5° C, 10° C, 15° C, room temperature, 30° C, 40° C, 50° C, and 60° C were given in a randomized fashion. Compared to the water bolus, the solid boluses elicited a significant (P<0.05) reduction in peristaltic wave velocity, which was accompanied by significant (P< 0.05) increments in the durations of wave contraction and lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. The magnitude of the response elicited by the solid boluses was comparable to that noted with boluses of high viscosity suggesting that the esophagus responds to increments in bolus viscosity and consistency in a similar fashion. Alterations in bolus temperature did not elicit any significant changes in the parameters of esophageal peristalsis. It is concluded that bolus temperature does not have a significant role in the modulation of human esophageal peristalsis except under conditions that cause a change in esophageal wall temperature.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mellow MH: Esophageal motility during food ingestion: A physiologic test of esophageal motor function. Gastroenterology 85:570–577, 1983
Meyer GW, Gerhardt DC, Castell DO: Human esophageal response to rapid swallowing: muscle refractory period or neural inhibition? Am J Physiol 241:G129-G136, 1981
Vaneck AW, Diamant NE: Responses of the human esophagus to paired swallows. Gastroenterology 92:643–650, 1987
Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ, Stewart ET, Stef JT, Arndorfer RC: Effects of increased intraabdominal pressure on esophageal peristalsis. J Appl Physiol 37:378–383, 1974
Kaye MD, Wexler RM: Alteration of esophageal peristalsis by body position. Dig Dis Sci 26:897–901, 1981
Hollis JB, Castell DO: Effect of dry swallows and wet swallows of different volumes on esophageal peristalsis. J Appl Physiol 38:1161–1164, 1975
Dooley CP, Schlossmacher B, Valenzuela JE: Effects of alterations in bolus viscosity on esophageal peristalsis in humans. Am J Physiol 254:G8-G11, 1988
Ingelfinger FJ: Esophageal motility. Physiol Rev 38:533–584, 1958
Cannon WB, Moser A: The movements of food in the esophagus. Am J Physiol 1:435–444, 1898
Palugyay J: Roentgenstudien ueber den oesgophagealen schluckakt. Ein beitrag zur speiseroehrenphysiologie. Pflugers Arch 200:620–641, 1923
Winship DH, Viegas De Andrade SE, Zboralske FF: Influence of bolus temperature on human esophageal motor function. J Clin Invest 49:243–250, 1970
Dodds WJ, Zikel G, Hogan WJ, Dent J, Arndorfer RC: The effect of bolus temperature on esophageal peristalsis. Gastroenterology 74:1028, 1978 (abstract)
Kaye MD, Kilby AE, Harker PC: Changes in distal esophageal function in response to cooling. Dig Dis Sci 32:22–27, 1987
Meyer GW, Castell DO: Human esophageal response during chest pain induced by swallowing cold liquids. JAMA 246:2057–2059, 1981
Ott DJ, Kelly RJ, Gelfand DW: Radiographic effects of cold barium suspensions on esophageal motility. Radiology 140:830–833, 1981
Kahrilas PJ, Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ, Kern M, Arndorfer RC, Reece A: Esophageal peristaltic dysfunction in peptic esophagitis. Gastroenterology 91:897–904, 1986
Kahrilas PJ, Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ: Effect of peristaltic dysfunction on esophageal volume clearance. Gastroenterology 94:73–80, 1988
Buthpitiya AG, Stroud D, Russell COH: Pharyngeal pump and esophageal transit. Dig Dis Sci 32:1244–1248, 1987
Fisher RS, Malmud LS, Applegate G, Rock E, Lorber SH: Effect of bolus composition on esophageal transit: concise communication. J Nucl Med 23:878–882, 1982
Eypasch EP, Bailey RT, DeMeester TR, Brewer A, Nwakama PE, Spires KJ, Hinder RA: Age influences capsule entrapment in the esophagus. Gastroenterology 94:A120, 1988 (abstract)
El-Quazzani T, Mei N: Electrophysiological properties and role of the vagal thermoreceptors of the lower esophagus and stomach of the cat. Gastroenterology 83:995–1001, 1982
de Carle DJ, Szabo AC, Christensen J: Temperature dependence of responses of esophageal smooth muscle to electrical field stimulation. Am J Physiol 232(Endocrinol Metab Gastrointest Physiol 1):E432-E436, 1977
Hubbard JI, Jones SF, Landau EM: The effect of temperature change upon transmitter release, facilitation and post-tetanic potentiation. J Physiol London 216:591–609, 1971
Jager LP, Den Hertog A: Effect of temperature on the transmitter release from the ‘purinergic’ nerves in the guinea pig taenia coli. Eur J Pharmacol 29:201–205, 1974
Kuriyama H: The effect of temperature on neuromuscular transmission in the vas deferens of the guinea-pig. J Physiol London 170:561–570, 1964
Wiederhielm CA: Effects of temperature and transmural pressure on contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle. Bibl Anat 9:321, 1967
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dooley, C.P., Di Lorenzo, C. & Valenzuela, J.E. Esophageal function in humans. Digest Dis Sci 35, 167–172 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536758
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536758