Gastric Motility 

Movement of the stomach is essential for mixing gastric contents with digestive juices and for propelling partially digested food into the intestines. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is particularly vulnerable to side effects caused by drugs, making it critical to evaluate potential adverse effects during drug development. Common GI-related side effects include bleeding, ulceration, disruption of barrier integrity, changes in absorptive functions, and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. To assess these effects, human stomach tissue is increasingly being used as it provides more accurate predictions of drug responses compared to animal models. 

At REPROCELL, our assays use electrically stimulated human stomach tissue attached to a transducer that detects changes in muscle tension. This setup allows us to assess whether your test articles cause changes in contractile force, which is vital for understanding their impact on stomach function. Suggested testing of your compound involves duplicate measurements at six concentrations, with responses expressed as a percentage change from baseline electrical field stimulation (EFS) responses. Reference compounds such as Galantamine and Meptazinol are available to provide comparative insights into your results. 

In addition to assessing contractile force, we offer a variety of endpoints to evaluate gastrointestinal system function and toxicity. These include gastric secretion, gastrointestinal injury potential, transit time in vivo, ileal contraction in vitro, gastric pH measurement, and pooling studies. These endpoints provide a comprehensive overview of how a compound might affect the GI tract. 

For a deeper understanding of drug absorption, metabolism, transporter function, and toxicity, we employ Ussing system experiments. This advanced system measures parameters such as transepithelial resistance, short-circuit current, and the movement of specific ions. It also allows for monitoring tissue integrity, secretory mechanisms, and the presence of toxic metabolites. By assessing electrical parameters like ion flow and cell integrity, the Ussing chamber provides valuable insights into GI toxicity and overall safety. 

With our use of human tissue models and sophisticated methodologies, we can provide data-rich, human-relevant insights into gastrointestinal safety and efficacy. These tools and approaches are designed to support your drug development efforts, ensuring that potential GI-related side effects are identified and understood early in the process.