HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (16) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sarnelli, G. Articles by Tack, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sarnelli, G. Articles by Tack, J.

NEUROREGULATION AND MOTILITY

Influence of sildenafil on gastric sensorimotor function in humans

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

Submitted 25 September 2003 ; accepted in final form 22 April 2004

After a meal, the proximal stomach relaxes probably through the activation of nitrergic neurons in the gastric wall. Nitric oxide-induced smooth muscle relaxation involves activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, with cGMP production, which is then degradated by phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sildenafil, a selective PDE-5 inhibitor, on fasting and postprandial proximal gastric volume and on gastric emptying rates in humans. A gastric barostat was used to study gastric compliance and perception to isobaric distension in healthy subjects before and after placebo (n = 13) or sildenafil, 50 mg (n = 15). In 10 healthy subjects, two gastric barostat studies were performed in randomized order to study the effect of placebo or sildenafil on postprandial gastric relaxation. Similarly, solid and liquid gastric emptying rates were studied in 12 healthy subjects. Sildenafil significantly increased fasting intragastric volume (141 ± 15 vs. 163 ± 15 ml, P < 0.05) and volumes of first perception. Sildenafil induced a higher and prolonged gastric relaxation either at 30 min (357 ± 38 vs. 253 ± 42 ml, P < 0.05) or 60 min (348 ± 49 vs. 247 ± 38 ml, P < 0.05) after the meal. Sildenafil did not alter solid half-emptying time but significantly delayed liquid emptying (43 ± 4 vs. 56 ± 4 min, P < 0.01). In conclusion, sildenafil significantly increases postprandial gastric volume and slows liquid emptying rate, confirming that meal-induced accommodation in humans involves the activation of a nitrergic pathway. The effect of sildenafil on gastric fundus suggests a therapeutic potential for phosphodiesterase inhibitors in patients with impaired gastric accommodation.

nitric oxide; gastric accommodation; gastric sensitivity; gastric emptying

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Vanneste, I. Dhaese, P. Sips, E. Buys, P. Brouckaert, and R. A. Lefebvre Gastric motility in soluble guanylate cyclase {alpha}1 knock-out mice J. Physiol., November 1, 2007; 584(3): 907 - 920. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Kindt and J Tack Impaired gastric accommodation and its role in dyspepsia Gut, December 1, 2006; 55(12): 1685 - 1691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]