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Sigmoid‐colonic motility in health and irritable bowel syndrome: a role for 5‐hydroxytryptamine
Author(s) -
Houghton L. A.,
Atkinson W.,
Lockhart S.,
Fell C.,
Whorwell P. J.,
Keevil B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2007.00943.x
Subject(s) - irritable bowel syndrome , motility , medicine , sigmoid colon , gastroenterology , postprandial , endocrinology , rectum , biology , genetics , insulin
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.