SHAM-FEEDING DISRUPTS PHASE-III OF THE DUODENAL MIGRATING MOTOR COMPLEX IN HUMANS

The role of the vagus nerve in the control of the intestinal migrating motor complex (MMC) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effe ct of physiological vagal stimulation with sham feeding on phase III o f the MMC. Antroduodenal motility was recorded in six healthy voluntee rs. The first phase III was used as a control, and sham feeding was pe rformed during the second phase III, The MMC was disrupted within 1.5 +/- 0.4 min of sham feeding and its duration was shorter than the cont rol phase III. Phase III propagation was inhibited in all subjects, mo st of them exhibiting no propagation beyond the third duodenal recordi ng site. During sham feeding, the antrum exhibited transient phasic co ntractions in five out of six subjects. The duodenal motility index re corded for up to 30 min after the onset of the sham feeding was unchan ged in five out of six subjects. We conclude that sham feeding consist ently interrupted phase III of the duodenal MMC and induced antral con tractions, but Jailed to provoke significant motor events in the duode num.