Phorbol esters induce retrograde myoelectric activity in rabbit ileum in vivo

We demonstrated a unique myoelectric response to phorbol esters and a diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-snglycerol, in rabbit ileal loops. This retrograde activity, the orad migrating complex (OMC), was devoid of slow-wave distortion or alterations in slow-wave frequency. The OMC was not inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin or enhanced by addition of the calcium ionophore A23187. The OMC occurred after 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a phorbol ester known to activate protein kinase C, and after 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, one that does not. Therefore, these studies provide initial evidence that the myoelectric activity induced by phorbol esters and a diacylglycerol is most likely in addition to the activation of protein kinase C.