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Pharmacological effects of oxytocin on gastric emptying and intestinal transit of a non-nutritive liquid meal in female rats

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Abstract

The effects of oxytocin (OT) on gastric emptying, gastrointestinal transit, and plasma levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) were studied in female rats. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed in rats 15 min after intragastric instillation of a test meal containing charcoal and Na2 51CrO4. Gastric emptying was determined by measuring the amount of radiolabeled chromium contained in the small intestine as a percentage of the initial amount received. Gastrointestinal transit was evaluated by calculating the geometric center of distribution of the radiolabeled marker. Blood samples were collected for CCK radioimmunoassay. After administration of OT (0.2–0.8 mg/kg), gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit were inhibited, whereas the plasma concentration of CCK was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Atosiban, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, effectively attenuated the OT- induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. However, administration of atosiban alone had no effect on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. The selective CCK1 receptor antagonists, devazepide and lorglumide, effectively attenuated the OT-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. L-365, 260, a selective CCK2 receptor antagonist, did not alter the OT-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. These results suggest that OT inhibits gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in female rats via a mechanism involving CCK stimulation and CCK1 receptor activation.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by a research grant (no. NSC90-2314-B-075-031) from the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China. Devazepide and L-365,260 were kindly provided by ML Laboratories PLC, Liverpool, UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Shih-Pai, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chiu-Lung Wu & Paulus S. Wang

  2. Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei-Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan , Republic of China

    Paulus S. Wang

  3. Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chen-Road Hung

  4. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Full-Young Chang

  5. Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA

    K.-Y. Francis Pau

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  1. Chiu-Lung Wu
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Correspondence to Paulus S. Wang.

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Wu, CL., Hung, CR., Chang, FY. et al. Pharmacological effects of oxytocin on gastric emptying and intestinal transit of a non-nutritive liquid meal in female rats. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 367, 406–413 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-003-0690-y

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