Definition

1. Noun:
   • A gastrointestinal hormone: "Motilin" is a specific polypeptide hormone produced by cells in the small intestine.
   • A regulator of motility: Its primary known function is to stimulate and coordinate the pattern of smooth muscle contractions, particularly in the stomach and upper small intestine, during the fasting state.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The release of motilin triggers the migrating motor complex, which clears the stomach and small intestine between meals.
  • Researchers are studying how motilin agonists could help patients with certain digestive motility disorders.
  • The peptide hormone motilin was first isolated in the 1970s.

Advanced Usage

• "Motilin receptor": The specific protein on the surface of gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells to which the motilin hormone binds to exert its effect.
  • The drug acts as an agonist at the motilin receptor.
• "Motilin-induced": Caused or stimulated by the action of motilin.
  • The study recorded motilin-induced contractions in the duodenum.

Variants and Related Words

• Motilinergic (adj): Relating to or denoting neurons or physiological processes that involve motilin.
  • The motilinergic mechanism is crucial for gastric emptying.

Synonyms

• Gastrointestinal hormone: A general term for hormones that regulate digestive system activity (e.g., gastrin, secretin). Motilin is a specific type of gastrointestinal hormone.
• Regulatory peptide: A broad category of small protein-like molecules used by cells to signal to each other, which includes motilin.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Migrating motor complex (MMC): The cyclic, propagating pattern of gastrointestinal muscle contractions during fasting, which is largely controlled by motilin.
  • Motilin is the key hormone initiating the migrating motor complex.
• Prokinetic agent: A type of drug that enhances gastrointestinal motility. Some drugs are designed to mimic or stimulate the motilin receptor.
  • Erythromycin has prokinetic effects because it acts on the motilin receptor.

Noun

1. a gastrointestinal hormone that apparently participates in controlling smooth muscle contractions in the stomach and small intestine