Springer-Verlag

Description

Background

Adrenomedullin is a vasodilator peptide that displays a variety of effects, such as hypotension and vasodilatation. The aim of this study was to test the effect of intravenous adrenomedullin on the motility pattern of the small intestine, and the functional involvement of adrenomedullin in endotoxin-induced small-intestinal motility disturbance.

Methods

Jejunal motility was recorded in fasted conscious rats, using miniature strain-gauge force transducers sutured to the serosal surface of the small-intestinal wall.

Results

Intravenous administration of adrenomedullin at doses of 3, 6, and 10 µg/kg per min over 30 min disrupted phase 3 of the migrating motor complex, with the disruption lasting for 61.9 ± 5.1, 52.2 ± 10.6, and 74.1 ± 25.2 min, respectively. The interval from drug administration to the onset of …