Effect of the secretin family of peptides on gastric emptying and small intestinal transit in rats.

We have compared the effects of the secretin family of peptides and their synthetic fragments on gastric emptying (GE) and small intestinal transit (SIT) using an unanesthetized rat model which simultaneously measures the GE and SIT of both solids and liquids. The meal consisting of 5% polyethylene glycol w/v, 5% Indian ink v/v and 20 non-digestible plastic beads was given intragastrically 10 minutes after the intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of saline or peptides (2 and 5 micrograms/kg). Plasma secretin and the immunospecificity of secretin fragments were determined. In control rats, the t1/2 for the GE of both solids and liquids were 56 +/- 3.8 and 19 +/- 2.3 minutes, respectively. Liquids emptied faster than the solids and liquids travelled ahead of the solids in the intestine. Secretin (5 micrograms/kg) inhibited GE of both solids and liquids by 33-37%. Secretin delayed the SIT of the meal by approximately 35%. Fragments of secretin and of VIP had no effect on GE and SIT of both solids and liquids. The whole molecule of secretin was required to inhibit GE and to delay SIT of solids and liquids. Glucagon, PHI and growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF1-44) inhibited GE and SIT of both solids and liquids. For all peptides tested, the inhibition of SIT was proportional to the inhibition of GE suggesting that the prolongation of SIT was secondary to delayed GE. These observations indicate that the peptides of the secretin family inhibit GE and prolong SIT. Thus, the structural requirement required for the secretin family of peptides to effect their motor actions on the stomach is similar to that required for pancreatic enzyme secretion.