Background/aims: To clarify the relationships between the onset of IMMC-pIII from the stomach or duodenum and the changes in plasma levels of gut hormones such as motilin (MOT) and somatostatin (SOM), the fasting phasic motility, especially interdigestive migrating motor complex phase III (IMMC-pIII), and changes in these 2 hormones in humans was studied.
Methodology: Thirty-three patients (17 men and 16 women, 20 to 65 years of age with a mean age of 54 years) who were hospitalized for treatment of body surface diseases and had no digestive diseases were studied. The occurrences of IMMC-pIII from both stomach or duodenum measured by a micro-tip force transducer with respect to the intra-gastroduodenal pressure were compared, and changes in the plasma levels of both motilin (MOT) and somatostatin (SOM) were monitored.
Results: IMMC-pIII occurred in all subjects. IMMC-pIII from the stomach was 54.5% (18/33) and that from the duodenum 45.5% (15/33). The plasma MOT levels in both IMMC-pIII from the stomach and duodenum were higher in IMMC-pIII compared with that in phase I. The plasma SOM levels in both IMMC-pIII from stomach or from duodenum were higher in IMMC-pIII compared with phase I. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of MOT and SOM in IMMC-pIII from both stomach and duodenum.
Conclusions: Both MOT and SOM are considered with the onset of IMMC-pIII from both stomach and duodenum. The onset of IMMC-pIII may be coordinated by these 2 hormones.