Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion (Nato ASI Subseries A:, 80)

## P~FOCE Gastroenterology is a large and diverse topic, and because of this scientists working in one area often know little of advances in other areas. This is particularly undesirable in a system with different functions that interact and affect each other. But to discuss the many aspects and their interactions adequately requires more time than is generally available at meetings. A lO-day International School of Pharmacology on "Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion" was therefore organised in Erice, Sicily, September 1983, kindly supported by NATO. This book combines the chapters written by the internationally recognised authorities who participated, and reflects the breadth and the depth of the subject matter. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Relation to Motility and Secretion....Pages 1-11 Techniques for Studying Gastrointestinal Motility in Vitro....Pages 13-33 Motility: Methods for in vivo Measurements....Pages 35-54 Smooth Muscle Electrophysiology....Pages 55-72 Electrophysiological Studies of Myenteric Neurons in Tissue Culture....Pages 73-85 Gastrointestinal Nerves, Hormones and Autacoids in Relation to Human Gastrointestinal Motility....Pages 87-108 Distribution of Gut Peptides and Their Actions....Pages 109-116 Histamine and the Digestive Functions....Pages 117-127 Relationships of Prostaglandins to Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion....Pages 129-157 Gallbladder Motility and Its Regulation....Pages 159-175 Histopathological Findings Relating to Disordered Motility and Secretion....Pages 177-188 Neuro-Hormonal Control of Gastric Acid Secretion: The Role of Histamine....Pages 189-203 Gastrointestinal Mucus....Pages 205-218 Intestinal Absorption and Secretion of Fluid and Electrolytes....Pages 219-228 Gallbladder Fluid Transport....Pages 229-238 Relationships among Intestinal Motility, Transit and Absorption....Pages 239-258 The Entero-Insular Axis....Pages 259-276 Neuro-Hormonal Control of Exocrine Pancreatic Secretion in Humans and Animals....Pages 277-280 Acute and Chronic Actions of Alcohol on Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in Humans and Animals....Pages 281-286 Dopamine Antagonists as Anti-Emetics and as Stimulants of Gastric Motility....Pages 287-301 Mechanisms by which Metoclopramide can Increase Gastrointestinal Motility....Pages 303-324 Laxatives: A Review of Their Mechanisms of Action....Pages 325-343 Back Matter....Pages 345-359