GLP‐1 suppresses gastrointestinal motility and inhibits the migrating motor complex in healthy subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome

• Published in: Neurogastroenterology and motility Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 649 - 659
• Main Authors: Hellström, P. M., Näslund, E., Edholm, T., Schmidt, P. T., Kristensen, J., Theodorsson, E., Holst, J. J., Efendic, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; antro‐duodeno‐jejnunal motility; Duodenum - drug effects; Duodenum - innervation; Duodenum - physiology; Female; Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Motility - physiology; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - administration & dosage; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - physiology; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - therapeutic use; glucagon‐like peptides; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - drug therapy; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - physiopathology; Jejunum - drug effects; Jejunum - innervation; Jejunum - physiology; Male; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating - drug effects; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating - physiology; peptide hormones; proglucagon; Pyloric Antrum - drug effects; Pyloric Antrum - innervation; Pyloric Antrum - physiology
• ISSN: 1350-1925; 1365-2982; 1365-2982
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2007.01079.x

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) is released after food intake to act as an incretin. GLP‐1 also inhibits gastric emptying and increases satiety. In rats, GLP‐1 inhibits small bowel motility. Our aim was to study the effects of GLP‐1 on gastrointestinal motility in healthy subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Antro‐duodeno‐jejunal manometry was carried out during a 4‐h control period with saline, followed by a 4‐h period with intravenous GLP‐1 (healthy: 0.7 and 1.2 pmol kg−1 min−1 (n = 16); IBS, 1.2 and 2.5 pmol kg−1 min−1 (n = 14). Plasma was analysed for GLP‐1 and gut hormones, and gut tissue expression of GLP‐1 receptor was studied. In healthy subjects, GLP‐1 0.7 pmol kg−1 min−1 reduced the migrating motor complexes (MMCs) from a median of 2 (range 2–3) to 0.5 (0–2), and motility index from 4.9 ± 0.1 to 4.3 ± 0.3 ln ∑(mmHg*s min−1) in jejunum, while GLP‐1 1.2 pmol kg−1 min−1 diminshed MMCs from 2 (2–3) to 1.5 (1–2.5), and motility index from 5.2 ± 0.2 to 4.4 ± 0.2. In IBS patients, GLP‐1 1.2 pmol kg−1 min−1 reduced the MMCs from 2.5 (2–3.5) to 1 (0–1.5) without affecting motility index. At 2.5 pmol kg−1 min−1 GLP‐1 decreased MMCs from 2 (1.5–3) to 1 (0.5–1.5), and motility index from 5.2 ± 0.2 to 4.0 ± 0.5. Motility responses to GLP‐1 were similar in antrum and duodenum. Presence of the GLP‐1 receptor in the gut was verified by reverse transcriptase PCR. In conclusion, the gut peptide GLP‐1 decreases motility in the antro‐duodeno‐jejunal region and inhibits the MMC in healthy subjects and IBS patients.