The Effect of Variations in Intragastric Pressure and Gastric Emptying of a Saline Meal in Humans

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of variations in intragastric (IG) pressure on gastric emptying (GE) of a saline meal in six healthy subjects and six vagotomized patients. IG pressure was measured by an IG flaccid bag and GE by a marker. Studies were done during infusion of 0, 3, and 9 μg · kg^-1 · min^-1 dopamine without and after an injection of domperidone, a dopamine antagonist. Graded doses of dopamine decreased IG pressure and delayed GE emptying in both healthy and vagotomized subjects. A significant correlation was found between variations of IG pressure and GE. Both dopamine effects were antagonized by domperidone. These studies indicated that dopamine or its agonist and domperidone may be indicated in vagotomized patients with accelerated or delayed GE of liquids, respectively.