title: Study of the effect of neurotensin on meal- and cerulein-induced gallbladder contraction.
abstract: We studied the effect of a low dose of neurotensin (2.5 pmol/kg/min) on meal- and cerulein-induced gallbladder contraction in 11 healthy volunteers by means of real-time ultrasonography. Ingestion of a meal caused a significant reduction in gallbladder volume which reached a maximum of 57 +/- 2% of the basal value at 60 min after the meal. The infusion of neurotensin caused a slight but not significant attenuation of the contractile response of the gallbladder to the meal (maximal reduction of 49 +/- 6%). Increasing doses of cerulein (10, 20 and 40 ng/kg/h, for 30 min at each dose) caused progressive reductions in gallbladder volume of 18 +/- 5, 72 +/- 5 and 89 +/- 4% with the three respective doses of cerulein used. The simultaneous administration of neurotensin did not significantly modify the gallbladder response to cerulein. The results indicate that neurotensin, at a dose of 2.5 pmol/kg/min, does not influence the gallbladder contraction stimulated by food or cerulein.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, St. Orsola Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gullo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ancona
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fusconi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolondi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002108:Ceruletide; D005502:Food; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D009496:Neurotensin; D002108:Ceruletide