Does intravenous ondansetron affect gastric emptying of a solid meal, gastric electrical activity or blood hormone levels in healthy volunteers?
BACKGROUND
In previous studies, tropisetron has been shown to accelerate gastric emptying of a solid meal. However, it is uncertain whether other specific 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, also have a gastroprokinetic effect in humans.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of ondansetron on gastric half-emptying time (T1/2) of a solid meal, gastric myoelectrical activity and hormone levels in 14 healthy volunteers.


METHODS
In a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study, we investigated the effects of ondansetron (8 mg intravenously) on the gastric emptying of solids (by scintigraphy), gastric myoelectrical activity (by electrogastrography) and the post-prandial release of cholecystokinin, gastrin, human pancreatic polypeptide, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, motilin, substance P and galanin.


RESULTS
The average T1/2 values were 86 min and 85.5 min without lag time (P=0.082) and 92 min and 93 min with lag time (P=0.158) for the placebo and ondansetron treatments, respectively. The average T1/2 of female volunteers was significantly longer than that of male volunteers. The dominant gastric electrical frequency and hormone plasma concentrations were not altered by ondansetron.


CONCLUSIONS
Ondansetron did not affect the gastric emptying of solids, the dominant gastric electrical frequency or the plasma concentrations of the analysed gastrointestinal peptides.
Netzer
P
P
Gastrointestinal Unit, University Hospital, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland.
Gaia
C
C
Lourens
S T
ST
Reber
P
P
Wildi
S
S
Noelpp
U
U
Ritter
E P
EP
Ledermann
H
H
Lüscher
D
D
Varga
L
L
Kinser
J A
JA
Büchler
M W
MW
Scheurer
U
U
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004435:Eating; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology*
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017294:Ondansetron