Gastroprokinetic effect and mechanism of SK-896, a new motilin analogue, during the interdigestive period in conscious dogs

Cisapride induced hypoglycemia via the KCNH6 potassium channel

Mutations in KCNH6 has been proved to cause hypoinsulinemia and diabetes in human and mice. Cisapride is a stomach-intestinal motility drug used to treat gastrointestinal dysfunction. Cisapride has been reported to be a potential inhibitor of the KCNH family, but it remained unclear whether cisapride inhibited KCNH6. Here, we discovered the role of cisapride on glucose metabolism, focusing on the KCNH6 potassium channel protein. Cisapride reduced blood glucose level and increased serum insulin secretion in wild-type (WT) mice fed standard normal chow/a high-fat diet or in db/db mice, especially when combined with tolbutamide. This effect was much stronger after 4 weeks of intraperitoneal injection. Whole-cell patch-clamp showed that cisapride inhibited KCNH6 currents in transfected HEK293 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Cisapride induced an increased insulin secretion through the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis in a rat pancreatic β-cell line, INS-1E. Further experiments revealed that cisapride did not decrease blood glucose or increase serum insulin in KCNH6 β-cell knockout (Kcnh6-β-KO) mice when compared with WT mice. Cisapride also ameliorated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in response to high glucose in WT but not Kcnh6-β-KO mice. Thus, our data reveal a novel way for the effect of KCNH6 in cisapride-induced hypoglycemia.

Motilin: from gastric motility stimulation to hunger signalling

After the discovery of motilin in 1972, motilin and the motilin receptor were studied intensely for their role in the control of gastrointestinal motility and as targets for treating hypomotility disorders. The genetic revolution - with the use of knockout models - sparked novel insights into the role of multiple peptides but contributed to a decline in interest in motilin, as this peptide and its receptor exist only as pseudogenes in rodents. The past 5 years have seen a major surge in interest in motilin, as a series of studies have shown its relevance in the control of hunger and regulation of food intake in humans in both health and disease. Luminal stimuli, such as bitter tastants, have been identified as modulators of motilin release, with effects on hunger and food intake. The current state of knowledge and potential implications for therapy are summarized in this Review.

Gastrointestinal motility disorders and gastrointestinal prokinetic therapy

Gastrointestinal motility disorders represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Disorders of gastrointestinal motility may result in accelerated transit, delayed transit, impaired relaxation, or inappropriate relaxation. The delayed transit disorders are the most important motility disorders of companion animals and may involve the esophagus (hypomotility and megaesophagus), stomach (delayed gastric emptying), small intestine (postoperative ileus and intestinal pseudo-obstruction), or colon (constipation and megacolon).

Effects of SK-896, a new human motilin analogue ([Leu13]motilin-Hse), on postoperative ileus in dogs after laparotomy

The effects of SK-896, a new human motilin analogue ([Leu13]motilin-Hse), on digestive tract motility in postoperative ileus were evaluated in a dog model of ileus after laparotomy. SK-896 was intravenously administered at 0.17, 0.33 and 0.67 microg/kg starting soon after operation and then at 6-h intervals, for a total of 9 times. SK-896 progressively, dose-dependently and significantly increased the duodenal motility from 1 h after operation. The recovery time of the gastrointestinal-interdigestive migrating complex (GI-IMC) activity, which is an indicator of normal gastrointestinal tract activity after laparotomy, was 56.5 +/- 5.0 h in the control group. SK-896 significantly shortened this recovery time. On the other hand, the plasma SK-896 concentrations declined diexponentially after administration, and can be described by a linear pharmacokinetic model within the dose range used. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of SK-896 did not change significantly at any postoperative time. There was no correlation between the plasma SK-896 concentrations and the intensity of duodenal motility, because the activity in the duodenum decreased transiently 13 h after laparotomy and increased with time thereafter. The changes in the activity are considered to reflect the progressive changes in the state of ileus. In conclusion, SK-896 increased the duodenal motility significantly, shortening the recovery time of GI-IMC-like activity in dogs with post-laparotomy ileus. Therefore, it is expected from these results that SK-896 would be useful and effective for the treatment of gastroparalysis after abdominal surgery.