These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: The mechanism of enhanced defecation caused by the ghrelin receptor agonist, ulimorelin.
    Author: Pustovit RV, Callaghan B, Kosari S, Rivera LR, Thomas H, Brock JA, Furness JB.
    Journal: Neurogastroenterol Motil; 2014 Feb; 26(2):264-71. PubMed ID: 24304447.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Discovery of adequate pharmacological treatments for constipation has proven elusive. Increased numbers of bowel movements were reported as a side-effect of ulimorelin treatment of gastroparesis, but there has been no investigation of the site of action. METHODS: Anesthetized rats were used to investigate sites and mechanisms of action of ulimorelin. KEY RESULTS: Intravenous ulimorelin (1-5 mg/kg) caused a substantial and prolonged (~1 h) increase in colorectal propulsive activity and expulsion of colonic contents. This was prevented by cutting the nerves emerging from the lumbosacral cord, by the nicotinic receptor antagonist hexamethonium and by antagonists of the ghrelin receptor. The effect of intravenous ulimorelin was mimicked by direct application of ulimorelin (5 μg) to the lumbosacral spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Ulimorelin is a potent prokinetic that causes propulsive contractions of the colorectum by activating ghrelin receptors of the lumbosacral defecation centers. Its effects are long-lasting, in contrast with other colokinetics that target ghrelin receptors.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]