Effect of alcohol upon myoelectric activity of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic and biliary duct pressures.

Myoelectric activity of the antrum, duodenum and sphincter of Oddi was recorded from 12 conscious opossums. The common duct and the pancreatic duct were cannulated for pressure measurements. Recordings were made in the fasted state and after gastric or duodenal administration of ethanol. Alcohol was instilled during phase I (55 experiments) or phase II (ten experiments) of the migrating myoelectric complex. Administration of alcohol caused the appearance of phase III-like activity in five to ten minutes in 91 per cent of the experiments. Pancreatic duct and common duct pressure oscillations occurred synchronously with respiratory movements and with sphincter of Oddi spike potentials. There was an increase in the number of pressure elevations related to the increase in sphincter of Oddi spike potentials after alcohol administration; however, base line pressures remained constant. It is concluded that the administration of alcohol into the stomach or duodenum causes the appearance of phase III-like activity and that there is no change in the base line pressure after the instillation of alcohol.