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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)
08:15

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)

Published on: December 2, 2010

Plasma motilin concentration and interdigestive migrating motor complex in diabetic gastroparesis: effect of

S R Achem-Karam, A Funakoshi, A I Vinik

    Gastroenterology
    |February 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Diabetic gastroparesis is linked to absent gut motility patterns and high motilin levels. Metoclopramide restores motility in these patients, irrespective of motilin concentration changes.

    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Endocrinology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Diabetic gastroparesis is characterized by abnormal gastrointestinal motility.
    • The role of plasma motilin concentration oscillations in this condition is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if abnormal plasma motilin oscillations cause motility issues in diabetic gastroparesis.
    • To examine metoclopramide's effects on plasma motilin and gastrointestinal motility in these patients.

    Main Methods:

    • Measured plasma motilin concentration and gastrointestinal motility in healthy controls and diabetic gastroparesis patients.
    • Administered metoclopramide to assess its impact on motility and motilin levels.

    Main Results:

    • Diabetic gastroparesis patients lacked normal interdigestive migrating motor complex (phase III activity).
    • Patients exhibited higher basal motilin concentrations with normal fluctuations.
    • Metoclopramide induced phase III activity in both groups, but motilin levels decreased in patients versus increased in controls.

    Conclusions:

    • Diabetic gastroparesis involves absent antral interdigestive migrating motor complex and elevated, but normally fluctuating, plasma motilin.
    • Metoclopramide effectively initiates gastrointestinal motility in diabetic gastroparesis independently of plasma motilin levels.

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