GASTROINTESTINAL ADAPTATION TO ENHANCED SMALL-INTESTINAL LIPID EXPOSURE

Studies were performed on 20 male adult rats to investigate the effect s of chronic intermittent infusion of lipid and physiological emulsifi er into the distal small intestine on stomach to caecum transit time ( SCTT) of the head of a test meal. SCTT was measured using environmenta l hydrogen analysis. Ileal lipid infusion normally delays gastric empt ying and small intestinal transit (p < 0.001), but chronic intermitten t infusion of Lipid, given three times a week gradually reduced the de lay in transit time until by four weeks it was no longer than control values. The lipid induced delay did not return during the four weeks a fter the chronic infusion had finished. Intermittent infusion of physi ological emulsifier into the distal small intestine for four weeks did not change the control SCTT or the acute response to an ileal lipid i nfusion. SCTT of the head of the meal did not change in the four weeks after the physiological emulsifier infusion had stopped. In conclusio n these results show that intermittently with lipid weeks results in d esensitisation mechanisms by which distal intestinal Lipid regulate SC TT of the head of a meal. This adaptation is not reversed within four weeks of withdrawal of the lipid infusion. These results emphasise the importance of assessing recent dietary history when assessing gastric emptying and small bowel transit times.