Control of gastroduodenal coordination: dopaminergic and cholinergic pathways.

The efficacies of the gastrokinetic drugs domperidone, cisapride , metoclopramide and bethanechol to improve antroduodenal coordination were compared in two test systems: in vitro, the gastroduodenal preparation of the guinea-pig; in vivo, the conscious dog implanted with strain gauges on antrum and duodenum. Antroduodenal coordination could be quantified for both the in vitro and in vivo systems. Drug effects were similar for both test models. Domperidone and cisapride , and to a lesser extent metoclopramide but not bethanechol, effectively improved antroduodenal coordination indicating that both dopaminergic and cholinergic pathways modulate antroduodenal motor patterns.