Differences between jejunal myoelectric activity after a meal and during phase 2 of migrating motor complexes in healthy humans

Using an intraluminal probe with six pairs of annular electrodes, the myoelectric activity of the proximal jejunum was recorded during 48-hr sessions in 16 healthy volunteers receiving evening and noon meals (1000 kcal) and breakfast (400 kcal). In 10 subjects receiving no drug, the characteristics of the migrating motor complexes (period, duration of each phase, velocity of propagation of phase 3, duration of the postprandial disruption) varied markedly between subjects but were relatively constant from the first to the second day of recording. Single spike bursts propagated at a rate of 2–5 cm/sec, clusters of 3–10 spike bursts propagated at a rate of 0.5–1 cm/sec, and similar clusters recurring repetitively each 1.5–2 min were observed after the meals and very rarely in the fasted state during phase 2 of nocturnal migrating motor complexes. In six subjects, oral administration of codeine (50 mg) 1 hr before a meal induced migrating motor complexes in the postprandial state, with characteristics similar to that observed in the fasted state except a longer duration of phase 2. Single spike bursts and isolated and repetitive clusters of spike bursts were observed during phase 2 of the codeine-induced migrating motor complexes and after meals preceded by placebo, but very rarely during the phase 2 of nocturnal (fasted state) migrating motor complexes. It is concluded that the patterns of jejunal contractions consisting of propagated single spike bursts and isolated or repetitive spike bursts characterize the postprandial state in healthy humans and are dependent upon digesta flow.This work was presented in part at the Vth European Symposium on Gastrointestinal Motility, June 13–16, 1990, Augsburg, Germany, and has appeared in abstract form in theJournal of Gastrointestinal Motility 2: 161, 1990.