Involvement of cholecystokinin receptor in the inhibition of gastrointestinal motility by oxytocin in ovariectomized rats

The effects of oxytocin on gastric emptying, gastrointestinal transit, and plasma levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) were studied in ovariectomized rats. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed in rats 15 min after intragastric instillation of a test meal containing charcoal and Na-2(51) CrO4. Gastric emptying was determined by measuring the amount of radiolabeled chromium contained in the small intestine as a percentage of the initial amount received. Gastrointestinal transit was evaluated by calculating the geometric center of distribution of the radiolabeled marker. Blood samples were collected for CCK radioimmunoassay. After administration of oxyrocin (0.2-0.8 mg/kg), gastric emptying and gastro-intestinal transit were inhibited, whereas plasma concentration of CCK was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Atosiban, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, effectively attenuated the oxytocin-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. However, administration of atosiban alone had no effect on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. The selective CCK1 receptor antagonists, devazepide and lorglumide, effectively attenuated the oxytocin-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. L-365, 260, a selective CCK2 receptor antagonist, did not alter the oxytocin-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit. These results suggest that oxytocin inhibits gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in ovariectomized rats via a mechanism involving the stimulation of CCK release and CCK1 receptor activation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.