NON-INVASIVE METHOD FOR ASSESSING GASTRIC MOTILITY

摘要

The present invention relates to the field of optical molecular imaging. More specifically, the invention provides a probe for use in a method for assessing the rate of gastric emptying and/or gastro-intestinal passage in an animal, said probe consisting of a non-nutrient semi­solid meal comprising a fluorochrome, and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the probe comprises protected beads of copolymers of polystyrene and polyethylene glycol, such as TentaGelSUPTM/SUP Beads, loaded with 1% Cy5.5. The invention further relates to the use of the probe for assessing gastric motility and a method for screening modulators of gastric and/or gastro-intestinal motility.