Effects of enhanced viscosity on canine gastric and intestinal motility.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of enhanced viscosity on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motor and myoelectrical activities in dogs.

METHOD

The study was performed in eight healthy female hound dogs chronically implanted with four pairs of gastric and two pairs of intestinal serosal electrodes and a duodenal fistula. Each dog was studied in three sessions and fed with three test meals with different viscosity. Gastric emptying was monitored for 2 h simultaneously with gastric and intestinal myoelectrical recordings.

RESULTS

The liquid test meal containing either 0.78% or 1.21% of galactomannan significantly delayed gastric emptying but had no effect on postprandial blood glucose levels in comparison with the meal containing no galactomannan. The liquid test meal containing either 0.78% or 1.21% of galactomannan significantly increased the frequency and strength of intestinal motility but had no effect on intestinal slow wave rhythms. The product with enhanced viscosity had no effect on gastric motor activity or gastric slow waves.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that enhanced viscosity delays gastric emptying, increases postprandial intestinal but not gastric motility, and has no effects on gastric or intestinal slow waves.