Study of the Effect of Neurotensin on Meal- and Cerulein-lnduced Gallbladder Contraction

Abstract

We studied the effect of a low dose of neurotensin (2.5 pmol/kg/min) on meal- and cerulein-induced gallbladder contraction in 11 healthy volunteers by means of real-time ultrasonography. Ingestion of a meal caused a significant reduction in gallbladder volume which reached a maximum of 57 ± 2% of the basal value at 60 min after the meal. The infusion of neurotensin caused a slight but not significant attenuation of the contractile response of the gallbladder to the meal (maximal reduction of 49 ± 6%). Increasing doses of cerulein (10, 20 and 40 ng/kg/h, for 30 min at each dose) caused progressive reductions in gallbladder volume of 18 ± 5, 72 ± 5 and 89 ± 4% with the three respective doses of cerulein used. The simultaneous administration of neurotensin did not significantly modify the gallbladder response to cerulein. The results indicate that neurotensin, at a dose of 2.5 pmol/kg/min, does not influence the gallbladder contraction stimulated by food or cerulein.

Effect of somatostatin on postprandial gallbladder relaxation

“…However, the results are not consistent. One study has shown that neurotensin stimulates gallbladder relaxation (Walker et al ., 1985) while another has reported that neurotensin had no influence on meal stimulated gallbladder contraction (Gullo et al ., 1992). A potential role of neurotensin and PYY in modulating human gallbladder motility is not supported by the results from the present study.…”

“…(1987b) have shown that PYY infusion induces gallbladder relaxation in the dog. Compared with PYY, the number of studies on the effects of neurotensin on gallbladder motility is more substantial (Walker et al ., 1985; Guo et al ., 1989; Gullo et al ., 1992). However, the results are not consistent.…”