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Perception and gut reflexes induced by stimulation of gastrointestinal thermoreceptors in humans
Author(s) -
Villanova Nicola,
Azpiroz Fernando,
Malagelada JuanR.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7793.1997.215bl.x
Subject(s) - thermoreceptor , reflex , stimulation , stomach , withdrawal reflex , anatomy , medicine , chemistry , anesthesia , neuroscience , sensory system , biology
1 Experimental studies in animals suggest the existence of thermoreceptors in the gastrointestinal tract. Our aim was to investigate the distribution and specificity of upper gut thermoreceptors in humans. 2 In healthy subjects, thermal stimulation of the stomach ( n = 8 ) and the small intestine ( n = 6 ) was produced by means of a thermostat, which recirculates water at adjusted temperatures through an ultrathin intraluminal bag. Progressively warm (42, 47 and 52 °C) and cold (32, 22 and 12 °C) stimuli of 3 min duration were alternately applied at 13 min intervals. Perception was scored on a scale of 0–6 and gastric tone responses were measured with a barostat. 3 Thermal stimuli induced specific responses: cold stimuli induced abdominal cold sensation and a reflex contraction of the stomach, whereas warm stimuli induced warm sensation and a reflex gastric relaxation. 4 Thermal stimuli induced similar stimulus‐related perception in the stomach and small intestine (temperatures between 12 and 49.5 ± 0.5 °C were tolerated). 5 The reflex responses were site specific. Warm and cold stimulation of the stomach induced gastric reflexes (76 ± 26 ml isobaric expansion at 47 °C, and 68 ± 10 ml contraction at 12°C; P > 0.05 for both). However, only warm, not cold, stimulation of the intestine induced enterogastric reflexes. 6 These results indicate that in humans, warm and cold receptors are distributed along the gastrointestinal tract and project afferent input both into perception and reflex circuits with specific topographic organization.