Dual capsaicin-sensitive afferent pathways mediate inhibition of gastric emptying in rat induced by intestinal carbohydrate

The role of the vagal and spinal afferent innervation in the inhibition of gastric emptying induced by duodenal perfusion with a disaccharide (maltose 300 mM) was investigated in awake rats fitted with gastric and duodenal cannulas. Perfusion of the duodenum with maltose inhibited gastric emptying by 44%. Maltose-induced inhibition of gastric emptying was reversed by 46% and 100% by functional ablation of the vagal or spinal capsaicin-sensitive afferent innervation, respectively. Pretreatment with the specific CCK 'A' receptor antagonist, MK329, completely abolished the effects of maltose on gastric emptying. These results suggest that disaccharides inhibit gastric emptying via activation of capsaicin-sensitive afferents in the duodenal mucosa via a mechanism involving an action of CCK at type 'A' receptors, possibly located on afferent fibers.