INFLUENCE OF OCTREOTIDE ON THE GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF SOLIDS AND LIQUIDSIN NORMAL HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

Background: The effects of octreotide on small intestinal and gall-bla dder motility are well established. However, the influence of octreoti de on the gastric emptying rate of both solids and liquids in normal h ealthy volunteers has never been studied. Methods: In nine healthy sub jects, the gastric emptying rate of liquids and solids was studied in basal condition and 30 min after subcutaneous administration of 50 mu g of octreotide, using the combined C-14-octanoic acid/C-13-glycine br eath test. To determine if the results were entirely due to alteration s in gastric emptying, (CO2)-C-14/13 excretion rates of intraduodenall y administered C-14-octanoic acid and C-13-glycine were measured in ba sal condition and after subcutaneous injection of octreotide. Results: After subcutaneous injection of octreotide, the gastric emptying rate of solids was decreased in all but one subject, while the gastric emp tying rate of fluids was decreased in all subjects. Nevertheless, (CO2 )-C-14/13 excretion rates in the breath after intraduodenally administ ered C-14-octanoic acid and C-13-glycine, were similar in basal condit ion and after subcutaneous injection of octreotide. Conclusions: Subcu taneous injection of a single physiological dose of octreotide induces a marked delay in the gastric emptying of solids and liquids in young healthy volunteers. The combined C-14-octanoic acid/C-13-glycine brea th test is very well suited to demonstrate this effect, since the abso rption and metabolism of octanoic acid and glycine remains unaltered a fter administration of octreotide.