Regulation of plasma motilin by opioids in the dog

In the first part of this study, we compared the effects of morphine and trimebutine, two opioid receptor agonists, on small intestinal motility and plasma motilin in dogs. Morphine (100 micrograms/kg iv for 10 min) induced first a typical vomiting myoelectric profile followed subsequently by a migrating electrical activity mimicking phase III of the migrating myoelectric complex; trimebutine (5 mg/kg iv for 10 min) initiated only a migrating phase III-like activity. Despite their different initial contractile effects, both agents induced a significant and similar rise in plasma motilin that preceded the beginning of the premature phase III. In the second portion of the study, naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, was infused to verify the influence of endogenous opiates on plasma motilin and on the migrating motor complex. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, then 0.5 mg.kg-1.h-1 iv) delayed significantly the cyclic recurrence of plasma motilin peak increases and of the phase IIIs. In some animals, where naloxone abolished the phase IIIs, the amplitude of the motilin peak increases was significantly diminished. These results suggest 1) that opioid administration increases plasma levels of motilin by a mechanism that is independent of the intestinal contractile activity, and 2) that endogenous opioids could be physiological inducers of plasma motilin increases in the conscious dog.