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Colonic transit in man is slowed by ondansetron (GR38032F), a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (type 3)

S Gore1, I T Gilmore, C G Haigh

  • 1Gastroenterology Unit, Royal Liverpool Hospital, UK.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Ondansetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 3 receptor antagonist, significantly prolonged whole-gut transit time compared to placebo in healthy volunteers. This suggests 5-HT3 receptors regulate colonic transit, indicating ondansetron

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 3 receptor antagonism is a key mechanism of action for ondansetron.
  • Understanding the role of 5-HT3 receptors in gastrointestinal motility is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate and compare the effects of ondansetron versus placebo on gastrointestinal transit in healthy male volunteers.
  • To investigate the potential role of 5-HT3 receptors in regulating colonic transit.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized, double-blind, cross-over study design.
  • Inclusion of 10 healthy male volunteers.
  • Assessment of gastric emptying, mouth-to-caecum transit, and whole-gut transit times.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in gastric emptying or mouth-to-caecum transit times between ondansetron and placebo.
  • A significant prolongation of mean whole-gut transit time was noted with ondansetron (54.8 hours) compared to placebo (32.1 hours).

Conclusions:

  • 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 3 receptors appear to play a role in the regulation of colonic transit.
  • Ondansetron demonstrates potential as an anti-diarrhoeal agent due to its effect on whole-gut transit.

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