Camilleri M, Carlson P, McKinzie S, Grudell A, Busciglio I, Burton D, Baxter K, Ryks M, Zinsmeister AR. Genetic variation in endocannabinoid metabolism, gastrointestinal motility, and sensation. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 294: G13–G19, 2008. First published October 25, 2007; doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00371.2007.—Cannabinoid agonist inhibits gastrointestinal motility. The endocannabinoid, a...

Synbiotic intake may efficiently restore the balance of gut microbiota and improve gastrointestinal functions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a synbiotic in patients with slow transit constipation. A total of 100 patients with slow transit constipation were randomized to receive either a synbiotic or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were the...

Cannabinoid agonist inhibits gastrointestinal motility. The endocannabinoid, anandamide, is inactivated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). A single nucleotide polymorphism in the human FAAH gene (C385A) reduces FAAH expression. Our aim was to evaluate associations between FAAH genotype variation and symptom phenotype, gastric emptying and volume, colonic transit, and rectal sensation in pati...

We recently reported that immobilization stress increased colonic motility, mucin, and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) release and mucosal mast cell degranulation in rat colon [ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 12611-12615, 1996; Am. J. Physiol. 271 ( Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 34): G884-G892, 1996]. To directly assess the contribution of mast cells, we compared colonic responses to stress in mast cell-...

The major active ingredient of the plant Salvia divinorum, salvinorin A (SA) has been used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. As the action of SA on the regulation of colonic function is unknown, our aim was to examine the effects of SA on mouse colonic motility and secretion in vitro and in vivo. The effects of SA on GI motility were studied using isolated preparations of colon, which we...

Sepsis frequently occurs after hemorrhage, trauma, burn, or abdominal surgery and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in severely ill patients. We performed experiments to delineate intestinal molecular and functional motility consequences of polymicrobial sepsis in the clinically relevant cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis model. CLP was performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats. G...

BACKGROUND Colonic transit tests are used to manage patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Some tests used expose patients to ionizing radiation. The aim of this study was to compare novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests for measuring orocecal transit time (OCTT) and whole gut transit time (WGT), which also provide data on colonic volumes. METHODS 21 healthy volunteers pa...

Ageing is associated with an increased incidence of constipation in humans. The contribution that the ageing process makes to this condition is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of age on faecal output and colonic motility in male C57BL/6J mice and to determine the role that altered tachykinin signalling plays in this process. Total faecal output recorded over a 24h pe...

Daikenchuto (TU-100) is a traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine used to treat postoperative ileus. TU-100 dose dependently increases gastrointestinal (GI) motility by modulating cholinergic and serotonergic mechanisms in animal studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of orally administered TU-100 on GI and colonic transit and bowel function in healthy humans. In a randomized,...