Effect of a Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogue (SMS 201–995) on Postprandial Gastric Emptying of 99mTc-Tin Colloid and Mouth-to-Caecum Transit Time in Man

Abstract

The effect on gut motility of a single subcutaneous injection of 50 μg of the long-acting somatostatin analogue, SMS 201–995, was investigated in 8 normal volunteers who took a drink containing ^99mTc and lactulose with a mixed meal. The rate of gastric emptying was assessed by disappearance of the isotope from the stomach area as measured by a gamma camera, and mouth-to-caecum transit time (MCTT) was measured by the appearance of hydrogen in the breath. Gastric emptying was accelerated, with a significant reduction of the time taken to 50% isotope disappearance (37.2 ± 3.3 min during control study vs 23.3 ± 3.4 min after SMS injection; p < 0.01). In contrast, MCTT was prolonged from 57.3 ± 9.4 min (control) to 203.6 ± 14.7 min after SMS (p < 0.001).