Abstract
Using the triple balloon technique it has been demonstrated that:
1. Subcutaneous injection of insulin in amounts of 12-20 units usually produces in normal human subjects fasting 11-44 hours an increase in gastric motility.
2. The essential features of this response are (a) an increase in gastric tone, (b) type A contractions, (c) a very prolonged hunger period.
3. The gastric hypermotility induced by insulin is not inhibited by smoking, mild nausea, unpleasant emotions, body discomfort, sight or thought of food, extraneous disturbances, swallowing or the presence of indifferent substances or food in the mouth or in the stomach.
4. The gastric motility is inhibited by introduction of dextrose or cane sugar into the duodenum, and also by the subcutaneous injection of atropine or epinephrine.
5. “Insulin sensations,” especially hunger, parallel rather closely the degree of gastric activity.
6. Under the experimental conditions described antiperistaltic movements in the stomach were not associated with sensations of nausea.
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