Effect of intraduodenal and intravenous amino acids on proximal gastric motor function in man

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of amino acids during the intestinal and postabsorptive phase of digestion on proximal gastric motor function measured with an electronic barostat. Eight healthy volunteers participated in three experiments performed during continuous infusion of: (1) intravenous and intraduodenal saline, (2) intraduodenal amino acids, and (3) intravenous amino acids. Both intraduodenal and intravenous amino acids induced gastric relaxation and increased gastric compliance. Only during intraduodenal amino acids did plasma CCK levels increase significantly. Correlation between intragastric volume measurements (with pressure set at MDP + 2 mm Hg) and plasma CCK levels was 0.90 (P < 0.001) during the early intestinal phase. Relaxation of the proximal stomach is related to plasma CCK in the early intestinal phase, whereas in the postabsorptive phase of amino acids other mechanisms play a role in proximal gastric relaxation.