Dopamine delays gastric emptying and prolongs orocaecal transit time in volunteers

Dopamine decreases gastric tone and may therefore influence gastrointestina l motility. The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of a con tinuous infusion of dopamine on gastric emptying and orocaecal transit time . Nine healthy male volunteers were studied on two occasions in a randomize d order. All volunteers received on separate days a continuous infusion of dopamine 5 mu g kg(-1) min(-1) on one occasion and normal saline on the oth er occasion. Gastric emptying was measured by the paracetamol absorption te st and orocaecal transit time by the hydrogen breath test. During the dopam ine infusion the area under the paracetamol concentration curve was signifi cantly smaller than during control conditions (P=0.02). Orocaecal transit t ime was prolonged during the dopamine infusion (P=0.02). Dopamine delays ga stric emptying and prolongs orocaecal transit time.