Abstract
Background & Aims: The peristaltic reflex induced by mucosal stimuli is mediated by intrinsic sensory calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) neurons activated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) released from enterochromaffin cells. The involvement of 5-HT 4 receptors was examined with selective 5-HT 4 agonists. Methods: Compartmented intestinal segments were used to measure neurotransmitter release and the mechanical components of the reflex. Results: In human jejunal and rat and guinea pig colonic segments, addition of the 5-HT 4 agonist HTF 919 elicited release of CGRP only into the compartment where the 5-HT 4 agonist was added; vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was released only into the compartment where descending relaxation was measured, and substance P (SP) was released only into the compartment where ascending contraction was measured. The CGRP antagonist hCGRP8-37 inhibited both mechanical responses by 75%–80%. Release of CGRP, VIP, and SP as well as ascending and descending responses were inhibited by selective 5-HT 4 but not by selective 5-HT 3 antagonists. Similar results were obtained with a different 5-HT 4 agonist, R093877. However, HTF 919 was 10–30 times more potent (median effective concentration, ~10 nmol/L for peptide release and 5 nmol/L for mechanical responses) than R093877. Conclusions: Selective 5-HT 4 agonists applied to the mucosa in nanomolar concentrations trigger the peristaltic reflex in human, rat, and guinea pig intestine. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:370-380
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