Human duodenogastric reflux, retroperistalsis, and MMC

The aim of this study was to determine to what extent human migrating motor complex (MMC)-related secretory phenomena are influenced by a recently discovered period of duodenal retroperistalsis during late phase III. A constant-flow perfusion technique was used to measure gastric appearance of acid, bicarbonate, pepsin, bilirubin, IgA, and duodenally infused [14C]polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 in 12 healthy volunteers. Interdigestive gastroduodenal motility was recorded by digital manometry. During late antral phase II and III, the gastric lumen was acidified (P < 0.005 phase III vs. phase I) together with a marked increase in luminal pepsin output (3.1 +/- 1.2 during phase III vs. 0.25 +/- 0.08 kU/5 min in phase I, P < 0.01), followed by a realkalinization due to a simultaneous reduction of acid secretion and a duodenogastric reflux, aided by retrograde peristalsis, of bicarbonate and IgA but not of bilirubin, at the end of antral phase III (P < 0.05 phase III vs. phase I values). This physiological duodenoantral reflux phenomenon may play an important role in the chemical and immunological restitution of the antral mucosal barrier function after the exposure to high acid and pepsin concentrations during antral phase III activity.