Abstract: The study is to observe the changes of gastric motility and motilin in diabetic gastroparesis(DGP)and to determine the effects of cisapride therapy in DGP. Twelve normals and 32 diabetic patients participated. Basal gastric motility was studied in both groups and plasma motilin(MTL)concentration was studied in each phases of MMC. Thirty-two diabetic patients were equally divided into 2 groups. Cisapride was orally administered in group one while non prokinetic drug was administered in group two as the control. The same examination was carried out in both groups. Results: ① In diabetic patients, abnormal MMC was characterized by absence of phase 3, prolongation of phase 2, decrease of motor index of phase 2 and amplitude of phase 3. ② In the control group, MTL concentration fluctuated in phases of MMC and reached a peak level in late phase 2. The MTL concentrations of patients were significantly higher than that of the control group and had normal cyclic fluctuations of MTL. ③ After cisapride treatment, MTL concentration were reduced significantly, and the contractile activity, amplitudes in phase 3 and motor index of phase 2 were increased significantly. It showed that gastric motility was depressed in diabetes. Abnormal motility in DGP might not be related to MTL deficiency. Cisapride administration in DGP can improve gastric motility and decrease MTL concentration.

Key words: migrating motor complex, motilin, cisapride