EFFECT OF THE QUARTERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUND TROSPIUM CHLORIDE ON 24-HOUR JEJUNAL MOTILITY IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

This study aimed to record 24 hour jejunal motility in healthy ambulan t subjects and to analyse changes in motility caused by the oral admin istration of an anticholinergic agent,the quarternary ammonium compoun d, trospium chloride. In a placebo-controlled, double blind crossover trial, 24 hour jejunal motility was recorded in 12 healthy volunteers, aged 25 (21-30) years, using a digital data logger connected to two s train-gauge transducers mounted 20 cm apart in a flexible nasojejunal catheter. A computer program was developed to determine contraction pa rameters. Trospium chloride (15 mg orally thrice daily) prolonged the duration of irregular contractile activity after meals (p<0.02) and re duced its contraction frequency and amplitude (p<0.001). In the fastin g state, the cycle length of the migrating motor complex was prolonged (p<0.01) by an extended phase: I (p<0.025). Phase III was shortened ( p<0.005) and showed a slower aboral migration velocity (p<0.005). Clus tered contractions were less frequent during postprandial and fasting periods (p<0.01). Runs of clustered contractions were completely absen t with trospium chloride. Digital manometry was useful for long term r ecordings of jejunal motility and enabled the motor effects of an anti cholinergic agent to be characterised in ambulant subjects.