DELAYED GASTRIC-EMPTYING BY HELICOBACTER-PYLORI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE INCONSCIOUS RATS

The present study was carried out to investigate the possibility that lipopolysaccharide deprived from Helicobacter pylori may alter gastric motility. To address the question, we examined the effect of H. pylor i lipopolysaccharide on gastric emptying in conscious rats. Gastric em ptying was evaluated by the phenol red method. Time-course and dose-re lated effects of intraperitoneal administration of H. pylori lipopolys accharide were investigated. Intraperitoneal injection of H. pylori li popolysaccharide significantly suppressed gastric emptying of a liquid meal in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory action of H. pylori l ipopolysaccharide was observed 2, 4, 8, or 12 hr after the injection. These results suggest for the first time that H. pylori lipopolysaccha ride may suppress gastric emptying in a long-lasting fashion. It is al so suggested that H. pylori may influence gastric function through its cell wall structure named lipopolysaccharide.