[Gastrointestinal motility disorders and drugs: opioids, calcium antagonists, nitrates, peptides, prostaglandins and 5-hydroxytryptaminergic drugs (part II)].

The review describes gastrointestinal receptors which are of therapeutic interest for the treatment of motility disorders. It updates the present knowledge of opioid, dihydropyridine, peptide, prostaglandin and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, their subtypes, cellular sites and functional role as drug targets. On the basis of this pharmacological concept, drugs, mainly agonists and antagonists, are evaluated in proven and potential indications. In view of the very complex regulation of motility, our understanding of receptors is still fragmentary, and our tools to treat motility disorders do not fulfill all therapeutic requirements. This review tries to point out the areas of particular need for further basic research and the prospects of further drug development.