The effect of erythromycin on motility of the duodenum, sphincter of Oddi, and gallbladder in the prairie dog
Kaufman, H.S.; Ahrendt, S.A.; Pitt, H.A.; Lillemoe, K.D.
Surgery 114(3): 543-548
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-6060 PMID: 8367809 Document Number: 410387
Background. Interdigestive motility of the stomach, duodenum, sphincter of Oddi, and gallbladder is mediated through the migrating myoelectric complex and the action of motilin. Erythromycin, a motilin agonist, has recently been studied as a gastrointestinal and biliary prokinetic agent. We hypothesized that erythromycin would increase interdigestive duodenal and sphincter of Oddi motility in a dose-dependent manner. Methods. In 10 anesthetized prairie dogs we determined the motility responses of the duodenum, sphincter of Oddi, and gallbladder to erythromycin infusion during a three-log dosing regimen and correlated activity with serum concentrations of the drug. Results. Erythromycin administered at 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg had no effect on duodenal or sphincter motility. At 1.0 and 10 mg/kg, duodenal motility index increased by 451% +- 114% and 1070% +- 480%, respectively, when compared with baseline values, (p lt 0.05). Sphincter of Oddi motility index increased by 122% +- 38% and 323% +- 99%, respectively, at these same doses of erythromycin (p lt 0.05). Gallbladder pressure did not change significantly during erythromycin infusion. Erythromycin serum concentration at 1.0 mg/kg was 1.0 +- 0. 7 mu-g/ml. Conclusions. These data suggest that erythromycin stimulates interdigestive motility of the duodenum and sphincter of Oddi in a dose-dependent manner at otherwise subtherapeutic concentrations of the drug.