The effect of cholecystokinin peptides on ovine duodeno-jejunal slow waves with and without pretreatment with proglumide.

Cholecystokinin exerts a composite influence on gastrointestinal motility but little is known about its effect on small-intestinal slow waves. Thus, six rams were implanted with four bipolar serosal electrodes onto the duodeno-jejunal wall. In the course of chronic experiments the myoelectric activity was continuously recorded in the non-fasted animals. After recording of the full normal migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), 0.15 M NaCl or CCK peptides were injected intravenously during various phases of the next MMC cycle. Five ml of saline was injected over 30 s during phases 1, 2a, or 2b of the MMC. Cerulein was administered at doses of 1 (over 30 s), 10 (over 30 or 60 s), or 100 ng/kg (over 30, 60, 120 or 300 s) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) at doses 20 times higher. CCK peptides were applied during early or late phase 1 of the MMC and during phases 2a and 2b of the MMC. In the course of additional experiments, saline and hormone administration was directly preceded by infusion of proglumide, an unspecific CCK receptor antagonist, at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The myoelectric recordings were continued until the arrival of a subsequent regular phase 3 of the MMC. In the duodenal bulb, slow waves were occasionally observed. In the duodenum the slow-wave frequency oscillated between 20 and 24 cpm and in the jejunum between 19 and 22 cpm before or after CCK peptides and proglumide. In the duodenum the slow-wave amplitude increased significantly after all doses of cerulein injected during phase 2b of the MMC. After administration of CCK-OP changes in duodenal slow-wave amplitude were not significant but exhibited a tendency similar to those after cerulein. In the jejunum, injection of cerulein and CCK-OP during phase 2 of the MMC increased the slow-wave amplitude significantly and the duration of these changes was longer than in the duodenum. After infusion of proglumide, administration of cerulein at the low dose over 30 s and at the high dose over 300 s in the course of late phase 1 and phases 2a and 2b of the MMC, significantly increased the duodenal slow-wave amplitude. Cerulein injection during phase 2b of the MMC at the high dose over 30 and 60 s, preceded by proglumide infusion, significantly inhibited the duodenal slow-wave amplitude. In the jejunum these changes were even more pronounced and their duration was much longer. It is concluded that CCK peptides affect slow-wave amplitude in the duodeno-jejunum in non-fasted sheep. This effect is stronger in the jejunum and is altered but not abolished by pretreatment with proglumide. Cerulein evokes more pronounced alterations in the slow-wave amplitude than CCK-OP in conscious sheep.