title: Effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal body contraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal contraction and determine their possible relationship with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled. Esophageal body peristaltic contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were measured using high resolution manometry. All subjects were randomly examined on four separate occasions following administrations of nifedipine, losartan, and atenolol, as well as without any drug administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peristaltic contractions by the esophageal body were separated into three segments by two troughs. The peak peristaltic pressures in the mid and lower segments of the esophageal body under atenolol administration were significantly higher than those without medication in a supine position. On the other hand, peristaltic pressures under nifedipine administration were lower than those observed without drug administration. Losartan did not change esophageal body peristalsis. Atenolol elevated LES pressure and slowed peristaltic wave transition, while the effects of nifedipine were the opposite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the anti-hypertensive drugs tested, atenolol enhanced esophageal motor activity, which was in contrast to nifedipine.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane 693-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Terumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koshino
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D013565:Sympatholytics; D001262:Atenolol; D009543:Nifedipine; D019808:Losartan