The Effect of Ergotamine on Intestinal Motility

Abstract

According to Mendez 1 ergotamine produced depression of motility in the isolated intestine of the rabbit. Later Issekutz and Leinzinger 2 reported that it was without effect on the intestine of these animals. More recently Rothlin 3 stated that ergotamine produced no effect in some rabbits and caused decreased motility in others. He also reported that in experiments with ergotamine on the intestine in situ of dogs his results were negative. Planneles 4 observed in the guinea pig that the isolated intestine of these animals was depressed by ergotamine. Thienes 5 recently carried out experiments on the isolated intestine of the guinea pig, rabbit and cat with adrenalin and low concentrations of ergotamine (1:250,000 and 1:500,000). He made no statement, however, of the action of ergotamine but a tracing of the intestine of a rabbit shows that no change in motility occurred as a result of the treatment with ergotamine. In the course of studies on the effect of intestinal motility 6 in which ergotamine was occasionally employed, it was noticed that the intravenous injection of the substance stimulated peristalsis in cats under urethane anesthesia. More extensive observations carried out since fully corroborated our earlier findings, and we were able also to show that the increase in the motor functions was in some cases very striking. These studies, which were carried out by the Trendelenburg method, on the intestine in situ were extended to experiments on the isolated intestine of the cat, suspended in oxygenated Locke's solution and kept at body temperature. Ergotamine in concentration of about 1:200,000 to 1:500,000 produced depression, the tonus being slightly decreased and the rhythmic movements were abolished or greatly diminished in force and frequency.