Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Postgraduate Medical Journal logoLink to Postgraduate Medical Journal
. 1974 Apr;50(582):194–197. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.50.582.194

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics of the oesophagus and the lower oesophageal sphincter

J J Misiewicz
PMCID: PMC2495570  PMID: 4449766

Abstract

Oesophageal function can be studied with intraluminal manometry, indwelling pH electrodes or with in vitro methods using isolated tissue. Radiology and endoscopy are the main diagnostic procedures. Innervation of the body of the oesophagus is mainly cholinergic, but the lower oesophageal sphincter appears to be affected by a wide range of biogenic substances, such as autonomic transmitters, polypeptide hormones and prostaglandins. Most drugs used in the treatment of oesophageal disorders act by modifying the action of the naturally occurring agents.

Full text

PDF
194

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ADAMS C. W., BRAIN R. H., ELLIS F. G., KAUNTZE R., TROUNCE J. R. Achalasia of the cardia. Guys Hosp Rep. 1961;110:191–236. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bennett J. R. Symposium on gastrooesophageal reflux and its complications. 5. The physicians's problem. Gut. 1973 Mar;14(3):246–249. doi: 10.1136/gut.14.3.246. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CODE C. F., FYKE F. E., Jr, SCHLEGEL J. F. The gastroesophageal sphincter in healthy human beings. Gastroenterologia. 1956;86(3):135–150. doi: 10.1159/000200544. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Castell D. O., Harris L. D. Hormonal control of gastroesophageal-sphincter strength. N Engl J Med. 1970 Apr 16;282(16):886–889. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197004162821602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cohen S., Fisher R., Tuch A. The site of denervation in achalasia. Gut. 1972 Jul;13(7):556–558. doi: 10.1136/gut.13.7.556. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cohen S., Harris L. D. Does hiatus hernia affect competence of the gastroesophageal sphincter? N Engl J Med. 1971 May 13;284(19):1053–1056. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197105132841902. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cohen S., Lipshutz W. Hormonal regulation of human lower esophageal sphincter competence: interaction of gastrin and secretin. J Clin Invest. 1971 Feb;50(2):449–454. doi: 10.1172/JCI106512. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dilawari J. B., Misiewicz J. J. Action of oral metoclopramide on the gastrooesophageal junction in man. Gut. 1973 May;14(5):380–382. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dilawari J. B., Newman A., Poleo J., Misiewicz J. J. Proceedings: The effect of prostaglandins and of anti-inflammatory drugs on the oesophagus and the cardiac sphincter in man. Gut. 1973 Oct;14(10):822–822. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Giles G. R., Mason M. C., Humphries C., Clark C. G. Action of gastrin on the lower oesophageal sphincter in man. Gut. 1969 Sep;10(9):730–734. doi: 10.1136/gut.10.9.730. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hollis J. B., Levine S. M., Castell D. O. Differential sensitivity of the human esophagus to pentagastrin. Am J Physiol. 1972 Apr;222(4):870–874. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1972.222.4.870. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Isaac P. F., Rand M. J. Cigarette smoking and plasma levels of nicotine. Nature. 1972 Apr 7;236(5345):308–310. doi: 10.1038/236308a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lind J. F., Warrian W. G., Wankling W. J. Responses of the gastroesophageal junctional zone to increases in abdominal pressure. Can J Surg. 1966 Jan;9(1):32–38. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lipshutz W., Hughes W., Cohen S. The genesis of lower esophageal sphincter pressure: its identification through the use of gastrin antiserum. J Clin Invest. 1972 Mar;51(3):522–529. doi: 10.1172/JCI106840. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Misiewicz J. J., Waller S. L., Anthony P. P., Gummer J. W. Achalasia of the cardia: pharmacology and histopathology of isolated cardiac sphincteric muscle from patients with and without achalasia. Q J Med. 1969 Jan;38(149):17–30. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pattrick F. G. Investigation of gastroesophageal reflux in various positions with a two-lumen pH electrode. Gut. 1970 Aug;11(8):659–667. doi: 10.1136/gut.11.8.659. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Pope C. E., 2nd A dynamic test of sphincter strength: its application to the lower esophageal sphincter. Gastroenterology. 1967 May;52(5):779–786. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Roling G. T., Farrell R. L., Castell D. O. Cholinergic response of the lower esophageal sphincter. Am J Physiol. 1972 Apr;222(4):967–972. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1972.222.4.967. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Stanciu C., Bennett J. R. Smoking and gastro-oesophageal reflux. Br Med J. 1972 Sep 30;3(5830):793–795. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5830.793. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. TUTTLE S. G., GROSSMAN M. I. Detection of gastro-esophageal reflux by simultaneous measurement of intraluminal pressure and pH. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1958 Jun;98(2):225–227. doi: 10.3181/00379727-98-23998. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Winans C. S., Harris L. D. Quantitation of lower esophageal sphincter competence. Gastroenterology. 1967 May;52(5):773–778. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Zfass A. M., Prince R., Allen F. N., Farrar J. T. Inhibitory beta adrenergic receptors in the human distal esophagus. Am J Dig Dis. 1970 Apr;15(4):303–310. doi: 10.1007/BF02239282. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Postgraduate Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES