Evaluation of the effect of metformin on the inhibitory effect of oxytocin on potassium chloride stimulated goat ileum.

The posterior pituitary hormone, oxytocin is expressed in the myenteric and submucous ganglia and nerve fi bers along the entire human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The role for oxytocin in the physiology and pathophysiology of the bowel remains to be clearly elucidated. Many studies have described that oxytocin exerts stimulatory or inhibitory effects on gut functions. Recently, mRNA for oxytocin and its receptor was found throughout the entire human GI tract. In this study, we examined the responses of the posterior pituitary hormone, oxytocin on the contractile responses to KCl and the effect of metformin on these responses as it affects the glucose transport and causes monoamine release in the gut.