Nitric oxide (NO) is a major non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal tract. NO released from the myenteric plexus enhances colonic transit and facilitates propulsion of the colonic contents by mediating descending relaxation. Although it has been suggested that colonic transit delays with aging, the mechanism of delayed colonic transit in aging...

BACKGROUND Serotonin 5-HT(4) receptors are located on enteric cholinergic neurones and may regulate peristalsis. 5-HT(4) receptors on primary afferent neurones have been postulated to modulate visceral sensation. While 5-HT(4) agonists are used as prokinetic agents, the physiological role of 5-HT(4) receptors in the human gut is unknown. AIMS Our aim was to characterise the role of 5-HT(4) re...

Radio-opaque markers have a well established role in distinguishing between patients with normal and those with slow intestinal transit, but in the latter group their accuracy in defining the region of delay has not been established. To study regional colonic transit accurately the transit of a radioisotope labelled meal was determined and findings were compared with those of simultaneously ing...

Background—Serotonin 5-HT4 receptors are located on enteric cholinergic neurones and may regulate peristalsis. 5-HT4 receptors on primary aVerent neurones have been postulated to modulate visceral sensation. While 5-HT4 agonists are used as prokinetic agents, the physiological role of 5-HT4 receptors in the human gut is unknown. Aims—Our aim was to characterise the role of 5-HT4 receptors in re...

BACKGROUND/AIMS The paucity of knowledge regarding gastrointestinal motility in patients with neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid diarrhea re-stricts targeted treatment. 3D-Transit is a novel, minimally invasive, ambulatory method for description of gastrointestinal motility. The system has not yet been evaluated in any group of patients. We aimed to test the performance of 3D-Transit in patien...

BACKGROUND Coarse bran is known to accelerate transit through the whole gut and to increase stool weight. This effect is much reduced by grinding the bran, suggesting that particle size influences gut motor patterns. AIMS To compare the effect of 15 g coarse bran with 15 g inert plastic particles and 7 g of ispaghula on the gastric emptying and small bowel transit of a rice pudding test meal....

BACKGROUND Populations at low risk of colonic cancer consume large amounts of fibre and starch and pass acid, bulky stools. One short chain fatty acid (SCFA), butyrate, is the colon's main energy source and inhibits malignant transformation in vitro. AIM To test the hypothesis that altering colonic transit rate alters colonic pH and the SCFA content of the stools. PATIENTS Thirteen healthy ...

Recent findings show that the enteric neurotransmitter VIP enhances gene transcription of the alpha1C subunit of Cav1.2 (L-type) Ca2+ channels in the primary cultures of human colonic circular smooth muscle cells and circular smooth muscle strips. In this study, we investigated whether systemic infusion of VIP in intact animals enhances the gene transcription and protein expression of these cha...