title: Role of dopamine and alpha-adrenoreceptors in the control of gastric emptying in the rat: possible involvement in the mechanism of action of metoclopramide.
abstract: The object of the study was to investigate the effects of dopamine receptor and alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists on the gastric emptying of a liquid test meal in conscious rats and the possible involvement of these receptors in the mechanism of action of metoclopramide. The gastric emptying of a liquid test meal in conscious chronic gastric fistula rats was delayed following subcutaneous administration of either 6,7-ADTN (1-50 mg/kg) or clonidine (0.05-1 mg/kg). Phenylephrine (0.2-10 mg/kg s.c.) had no effect on gastric emptying, suggesting that dopamine and alpha 2-, but not alpha 1-adrenoreceptors may be involved in the control of gastric emptying in the rat. Phentolamine (0.2-5 mg/kg s.c.) and prazosin (0.1-0.5 mg/kg s.c.) potentiated the delay in gastric emptying induced by 6,7-ADTN, whilst yohimbine (1-5 mg/kg s.c.) and prazosin (0.1-0.5 mg/kg s.c.) reversed the delay in emptying induced by clonidine. All three alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists also delayed gastric emptying in the absence of agonist. Propranolol (0.2-5 mg/kg s.c.) had no effect on either normal or delayed gastric emptying. Both metoclopramide (1-10 mg/kg s.c.) and haloperidol (0.02-0.5 mg/kg s.c.) reversed the 6,7-ADTN-induced delayed emptying but not the clonidine-induced delayed emptying. In addition, metoclopramide (5-10 mg/kg s.c.), but not haloperidol, increased gastric emptying in the absence of agonist. In conclusion, these results show that dopamine and alpha-adrenoreceptors may be involved in the control of gastric emptying in the rat. However, it would appear that alpha 2-adrenoreceptors are unlikely to be involved in the mechanism of action of metoclopramide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McRitchie
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D010656:Phenylephrine; C011639:ADTN; D008787:Metoclopramide; D003000:Clonidine