Accelerated gastric emptying during hypoglycaemia is not associated with changes in plasma motilin levels

This study examined whether or not changes in plasma concentrations of motilin and other gastrointestinal hormones known to affect gastric motility are associated with the accelerated gastric emptying seen during hypoglycaemia. While studying gastric emptying by scintigraphy in eight healthy subjects, the plasma concentrations of glucagon, adrenaline, motilin, gastrin, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin were measured during normoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia with simultaneous infusion of either atropine or saline. Blood glucose concentrations were checked by an insulin-glucose clamp. The plasma levels of glucagon and adrenaline increased markedly during both hypoglycaemic examinations compared with normoglycaemia. Neither motilin nor any of the other hormones displayed considerable changes during hypoglycaemia with and without atropine compared with normoglycaemia. No further information about the mechanisms behind the accelerated gastric emptying rate during hypoglycaemia was obtained by analysing motilin and the other gastrointestinal hormones.