MOTOR CYCLES WITH PHASE-III IN ANTRUM ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MOTILIN LEVELS AND PROLONGED GALLBLADDER EMPTYING

We examined the relationship of interdigestive gallbladder emptying wi th the different phases of the migrating motor complex (MMC) and with plasma levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) and motilin. In 10 volunteers 2 0 cycles of the MMC were recorded. In 11 cycles phase III occurred in antrum and duodenum (group 1). In nine cycles phase III was observed o nly in duodenum (group 2). In group 1 gallbladder emptying started at 30% of total cycle length and continued until the end of the cycle. Ma ximal gallbladder emptying was 33.3 +/- 3.3% (SE). In group 2 gallblad der emptying also started at 30% of total cycle length but ended at 60 %. Maximal gallbladder emptying in this group was 24.3 +/- 3.1% (P < 0 .05). Motilin levels were higher in group 1 than in group 2 during pha se IIB (240.1 +/- 28.5 and 142.1 +/- 30.9 pg/ml, respectively, P < 0.0 5) and during phase III (210.8 +/- 24.3 and 93.5 +/- 12.5 pg/ml, respe ctively, P < 0.05). We conclude that 1) phase III activities starting in the antrum are preceded by greater and prolonged gallbladder emptyi ng, higher motilin levels, and higher intraduodenal bile acid concentr ations than phase III activities starting in the duodenum and 2) no re lationship between interdigestive gallbladder motility and CCK levels could be demonstrated.