Effect of intravenous infusion of glyceryl trinitrate on gastric and small intestinal motor function in healthy humans

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 1251 - 1257
• Main Authors: MADSEN, J. L., FUGLSANG, S., GRAFF, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 15.04.2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Gamma Cameras; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Intestine, Small - diagnostic imaging; Intestine, Small - drug effects; Intestine, Small - physiopathology; Manometry; Medical sciences; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - drug effects; Nitroglycerin - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postprandial Period; Radionuclide Imaging; Treatment Failure; Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology; Antianginal agent; Human; Stomach; Intravenous administration; Healthy subject; Digestive system; Coronary vasodilator agent; Gut; Infusion; Perfusion; Nitroglycerin; Organic nitrate; Motricity
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02875.x

Summary Background  Glyceryl trinitrate is a donor of nitric oxide that relaxes smooth muscle cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Little is known about the effect of glyceryl trinitrate on gastric emptying and no data exist on the possible effect of glyceryl trinitrate on small intestinal transit. Aim  To examine the effect of intravenous infusion of glyceryl trinitrate on gastric and small intestinal motor function after a meal in healthy humans. Methods  Nine healthy volunteers participated in a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, crossover study. Each volunteer was examined during intravenous infusion of glyceryl trinitrate 1 μg/kg × min or saline. A gamma camera technique was used to measure gastric emptying and small intestinal transit after a 1600‐kJ mixed liquid and solid meal. Furthermore, duodenal motility was assessed by manometry. Results  Glyceryl trinitrate did not change gastric mean emptying time, gastric half emptying time, gastric retention at 15 min or small intestinal mean transit time. Glyceryl trinitrate did not influence the frequency of duodenal contractions, the amplitude of duodenal contractions or the duodenal motility index. Conclusions  Intravenous infusion of glyceryl trinitrate 1 μg/kg × min does not induce major changes in gastric or small intestinal motor function after a 1600‐kJ meal in healthy volunteers.