SUMMARYThe influence of systemic arterial infusions of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) and somatostatin, and injections of cisapride, metoclopramide and atropine on gastric emptying were studied in eight pigs. Gastric emptying of dry matter (DM) and liquids (Cr-EDTA as marker) was measured, in pigs fitted with a gastric cannula, by evacuation of gastnc contents either immediately after the pigs had finished feeding, or 3 h after being fed a meal containing 1200 g of a finely ground barley diet mixed with 2-4 1 water. Gastric emptying of DM and liquids during the feeding period was not significantly altered by cisapride (0.15 and 0-3 mg kg-'-1), metoclopramide (0-2 mg kg-'), CCK8 (250 ng kg-' h-1) or somatostatin (1.8 and 4-5 jug kg-1 h-1); atropine (0.06 mg kg-') slowed emptying of DM (by 53 + 6 %; P < 0 001) and of liquids (by 51 + 7 %, P < 0.01). In contrast, the amount of DM emptied within 3 h of feeding was significantly reduced with CCK8 (250 ng kg-1 h-1; by 14 + 3 %, P < 0.001) and with somatostatin (1 8 jug kg-1 h-1; by 10± 4%; P < 0001). There was no increase in emptying of DM or liquids with cisapride or metoclopramide; indeed, there was actually a reduction in liquid emptying (by 13 + 6%; P < 0 05) with cisapride (0 3 mg kg-'). Gastric emptying in the pig is therefore resistant both to stimulation by prokinetic agents, and to inhibition by some putative neurohormonal modulators at the doses used; gastric emptying during feeding is even more resistant to alteration than is emptying between meals. It is concluded that in the pig, neither CCK nor somatostatin are involved in regulation of gastric emptying during the feeding period, but that both may play a minor role in regulation of emptying between meals. The low sensitivity to CCK may be a factor in the rapid gastric emptying of the pig.

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