SECONDARY PERISTALTIC CONTRACTIONS, LIKE PRIMARY PERISTALSIS, ARE PRECEDED BY INHIBITION IN THE HUMAN ESOPHAGEAL BODY

Swallow-induced esophageal peristalsis is preceded by a wave of inhibi tion in the esophageal body. The aim of this study was to determine wh ether a similar wave of inhibition precedes secondary peristalsis. Pri mary and secondary peristalsis were studied in 6 healthy subjects. Inh ibition was visualized as relaxation of an artificial high-pressure zo ne which was created in the esophageal body by the inflation of a smal l intraesophageal balloon. Secondary peristaltic contractions induced by injection of 10 mi of air in the proximal esophagus or secondary pe ristaltic contractions spontaneously occurring after repeated swallowi ng were preceded by inhibition similar to that observed in primary per istalsis (96.4 +/- 2.8%, 93.2 +/- 4.2% and 91.5 +/- 3.3%) respectively . It is concluded that physiologically triggered secondary peristaltic contractions are preceded by inhibition in the esophageal body.