Gastrointestinal hormones and the quantitation of spontaneous duodenal motor activity

This is a survey of the results of recent investigations on gastrointestinal (GI) peptide hormones. In addition to the classical GI hormones (secretin, gastrin, and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ], there are at least nine other peptides whose structures and GI effects are known. These include vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), motilin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), substance P, neurotensin, somatostatin, enkephalins, and a bombesin-like gastrin-releasing peptide. It is now obvious that the traditional distinctions between hormones, neurotransmitters, and paracrines are rapidly becoming obsolete, as the actions and interactions of these substances within the complex motor system of the GI tract are gradually revealed. The study of perturbed states and toxic effects on the motor function of the small intestine is complicated by the integration of the activity of the small intestine with the activities of the body as a whole. A contemporary approach for evaluating intestinal contractile activity is described that uses computer assistance to measure the intercontractile interval (ICI). This technique may prove useful in assessing the effects of toxicological agents on spontaneous intestinal motor activity in vitro when the agents are delivered to the target sites by physiological mechanisms, in contrast to adding them to the tissue bath.