A simple double radiolabeled technique to evaluate gastric emptying of canned food meal in dogs. Application to pharmacological tests.

Simultaneous measurement of solid and liquid phases of gastric emptying for a standard canned food meal was performed using a double radiolabeled technique in six dogs equipped with gastric cannula. The liquid phase (100 ml of tap water containing [14C] polyethylene glycol 4000) was added to the solid phase (400 g of canned food containing 10 g of liver tagged with [57Co] cyanocobalamine) and was presented for spontaneous eating to the dog. Determinations of individual emptying curves for solid and liquid phases were performed by total collection of gastric contents at one hour intervals 1 to 4 h after feeding. Regression constants and correlation coefficients indicated that liquids evacuated as a logarithmic function of time while solids emptied linearly between 1 and 4 h after the meal. Using this method we showed that orally (PO) administered metoclopramide (1 mg/kg) and domperidone (5 mg/kg) increased emptying of liquid phase measured one hour after eating by 106.3 p. 100 and 59.4 p. 100, respectively, but did not modify that of solid phase; in contrast, cisapride (5 mg/kg PO) increased emptying of the solid and liquid phases at one hour by 41.5 p. 100 and 73.0 p. 100, respectively.