ACCELERATED GASTRIC-EMPTYING DURING HYPOGLYCEMIA IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN PLASMA MOTILIN LEVELS

This study examined whether or not changes in plasma concentrations of motilin and other gastrointestinal hormones known to affect gastric m otility are associated with the accelerated gastric emptying seen duri ng hypoglycaemia. While studying gastric emptying by scintigraphy in e ight healthy subjects, the plasma concentrations of glucagon, adrenali ne, motilin, gastrin, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin were measured du ring normoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia with simultaneous infusion of ei ther atropine or saline. Blood glucose concentrations were checked by an insulin-glucose clamp, The plasma levels of glucagon and adrenaline increased markedly during both hypoglycaemic examinations compared wi th normoglycaemia. Neither motilin nor any of the other hormones displ ayed considerable changes during hypoglycaemia with and without atropi ne compared with normoglycaemia, No further information about the mech anisms behind the accelerated gastric emptying rate during hypoglycaem ia was obtained by analysing motilin and the other gastrointestinal ho rmones.