[A roentgenologic study on metoclopramide in the vagotomized rat].

After a brief description of the central pharmacodynamic action of metoclopramide, the results of an investigation in two groups of rats of the same age, sex, and weight are reported. The first group was subjected to vagotomy, whereas the second consisted of normal animals. The experiment consisted of two stages. During the first part of the experiment control roentgenograms were taken at fixed intervals after a barium solution had been introduced into the stomach of the animals (both normal and vagotomized). Later, the experiment was repeated after the intravenous or intramuscular administration of 5 mg of metoclopramide. A positive action of Plasil on the gastro-intestinal motility was confirmed in the normal rat, as was the negative action of the drug in the vagotomized animal. An effective action of the drug on the gastro-intestinal system thus depends on the integrity of the efferent parasympathetic paths; this is probably also related to species differences.