[Development of methods for measuring the emptying time of solid and liquid test meals in rat stomachs]

Different methods for experimental measuring the gastric emptying time in the rat have been developed. For the invasive method of measuring the stomach emptying time of a solid test meal containing Amberlite pellets too many animals are necessary. On the other hand, for the non-invasive examination of the emptying of a radioactively marked liquid test meal by scintigraphy the resolution of the gamma-camera is too low. However we were able to develop a non-invasive fluoroscopic method for the simultaneous measurement of the gastric emptying of a solid (10 radiodense markers) and a liquid (0.5 ml diluted contrast medium) test meal. Using this method it was possible to examine the influence of stomach motility stimulating drugs, such as the parasympathomimeticum carbachol and the dopamine antagonist metoclopramide.