The effect of a new synthetic cholinergic compound (aclatonium napadisilate) on interdigestive motility and pancreatic function in humans.

To investigate the effect of aclatonium napadisilate (Ac), a synthetic cholinergic compound, on human interdigestive gastrointestinal function, six healthy volunteers underwent gastrointestinal intubation for measurement of duodeno-jejunal motor activity and pancreatic enzyme secretion. Each subject was studied twice on two separate days and received either aclatonium (300 mg) or placebo intraduodenally in randomized order. Aclatonium significantly increased the overall length of the cycle of interdigestive motor complex (IMC) by a mean of 34% (p less than 0.05) without stimulating the phases of increased motor activity. Aclatonium slightly, but significantly increased output of lipase during phase II of the IMC (p less than 0.05), whereas outputs during phase I and III were not significantly changed. We conclude that aclatonium in a dose of 300 mg has only weak cholinergic effects on motility and exocrine pancreatic secretion in healthy humans during the interdigestive state.

Effect of calcitonin on the interdigestive motility and on gastric and pancreatic secretion in humans.

Calcitonin given in doses (0.2 and 1 MRC U/kg-1h-1) reproducing the levels observed in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, induced the appearance of phase III type activity and reduced the duration of the IMC in the small intestine from 123 to 87 min with 0.2 MRC U kg-1h-1 and from 123 to 43 min with 1 MRC U kg-1h-1 but not in the stomach of young volunteers. This increase in phase III-like activity occurred despite a sharp reduction in motilin levels. Only the highest dose of calcitonin reduced significantly acid secretion (by more than 90%) while both doses reduced amylase secretion by respectively 65 and 71% when compared to the control levels. These changes in motility and secretion could partly explain the diarrhea observed in patients with the medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.