title: Sigmoid-colonic motility in health and irritable bowel syndrome: a role for 5-hydroxytryptamine.
abstract: Abstract Evidence suggests that sigmoid-colonic motility is increased in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plays a role in the control of motility, but its involvement in the dysmotility seen in IBS remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between platelet depleted plasma 5-HT (PDP 5-HT) concentration and sigmoid-colonic motility in patients with IBS and healthy volunteers. Pre- and postprandial PDP 5-HT concentrations were assessed while recording sigmoid-colonic motility in 35 IBS patients (aged 19-53 years, eight male) and 16 healthy volunteers (aged 18-39 years, six male). Motility was recorded using a five-channel solid-state catheter introduced to a depth of 35 cm into an unprepared bowel. 5-Hydroxytryptamine concentration was measured by reverse-phase HPLC with fluorimetric detection. Irritable bowel syndrome patients had elevated concentrations of PDP 5-HT under fasting (P < 0.004) and fed (P = 0.079) conditions compared with controls. Likewise, they exhibited increased sigmoid-colonic motility under fasting (activity index: P < 0.02) and fed (P < 0.05) conditions compared with controls. Platelet depleted plasma 5-HT concentration positively correlated with colonic activity index under both fasting (r = 0.402; P = 0.003) and fed (r = 0.439; P = 0.001) conditions. These data show a possible relationship between endogenous concentrations of 5-HT and sigmoid-colonic motility recorded in both IBS and healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Neurogastroenterology Unit, Academic Division of Medicine and Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK. lesley.houghton@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Whorwell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keevil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin