The activity front of the migrating motor complex of the human stomach but not of the small intestine is motilin-dependent.

The role of motilin in the generation of the gastric component of phase 3 of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) was studied in human volunteers. Interdigestive motor activity was recorded manometrically in five normal subjects after a fast of at least 15 h. Intraluminal pressures were measured in the gastric antrum at 4 levels 3 cm apart and in the upper small bowel at 3 levels 25 cm apart. Blood samples were drawn every 10 min for radioimmunoassay of motilin and PP. After 2 spontaneously occurring activity fronts (AF) had been recorded, bovine PP was infused intravenously at a rate of 50 micrograms/h. Following the third AF a combination of PP (50 micrograms/h) and 13-norleucine-motilin (30 micrograms/h) was infused until after the next AF. It was found that 90% of the spontaneous AFs originated in the stomach. They were preceded by a motilin peak. During the PP infusion, plasma PP levels increased from 29 to 256 pmol/l, motilin decreased from 42 to 15 pmol/l, and all AFs originated in the small bowel. During the combined PP and motilin infusion, plasma motilin increased to 330 pmol/l, and all AFs again originated in the stomach. It is concluded that motilin has an important role in the regulation of the MMC activity front in the stomach, but not in the small intestine. Postprandial rises in plasma PP might be involved in lowering motilin levels after a meal, and indirectly, in the disruption of gastric MMCs during digestion.