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R C Ritter

Publications and source records attributed to R C Ritter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Leptin and CCK selectively activate vagal afferent neurons innervating the stomach and duodenum.

The hormone leptin and the gut peptide CCK synergistically interact to enhance the process of satiation. Although this interaction may occur at several levels of the neuroaxis, our previous results indicate that leptin can specifically enhance the satiation effect of CCK by acting on subdiaphragmatic vagal afferent neurons. Because of this localized action, we hypothesized that a high proportion of vagal afferent neurons innervating the stomach or duodenum would be responsive to leptin and/or CCK. To test this hypothesis, we measured changes in cytosolic calcium levels induced by leptin and CCK in cultured nodose ganglion neurons labeled with a retrograde neuronal tracer injected into either the stomach or the duodenum. In the neurons labeled from the stomach, CCK activated 74% (39 of 53) compared with only 35% (34 of 97) of nonlabeled cells. Of the CCK-responsive neurons 60% (18 of 30) were capsaicin-sensitive. Leptin activated 42% (22 of 53) of the stomach innervating neurons compared with 26% of nonlabeled neurons. All of the leptin-sensitive neurons labeled from the stomach also responded to CCK. In the neurons labeled from the duodenum, CCK activated 71% (20 of 28). Of these CCK-responsive neurons 80% (12 of 15) were capsaicin sensitive. Leptin activated 46% (13 of 28) of these duodenal innervating neurons, of which 89% (8 of 9) were capsaicin-sensitive. Among neurons labeled from the duodenum 43% (12 of 28) were responsive to both leptin and CCK, compared with only 15% (15 of 97) of unlabeled neurons. Our results support the hypothesis that vagal afferent sensitivity to CCK and leptin is concentrated in neurons that innervate the stomach and duodenum. These specific visceral afferent populations are likely to comprise a substrate through which acute leptin/CCK interactions enhance satiation.

Animals↗

Hindbrain administration of NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 increases food intake in the rat.

Hindbrain administration of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channel blocker, increases meal size, suggesting NMDA receptors in this location participate in control of food intake. However, dizocilpine (MK-801) reportedly antagonizes some non-NMDA ion channels. Therefore, to further assess hindbrain NMDA receptor participation in food intake control, we measured deprivation-induced intakes of 15% sucrose solution or rat chow after intraperitoneal injection of either saline vehicle or D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5), a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, to the fourth ventricular, or nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Intraperitoneal injection of AP5 (0.05, 0.1, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg) did not alter 30-min sucrose intake at any dose (10.7 +/- 0.4 ml, saline control) (11.0 +/- 0.8, 11.2 +/- 1.0, 11.2 +/- 1.0, 13.1 +/- 2.2, and 11.0 +/- 1.9 ml, AP5 doses, respectively). Fourth ventricular administration of both 0.2 mug (16.7 +/- 0.6 ml) and 0.4 mug (14.9 +/- 0.5 ml) but not 0.1 and 0.6 mug of AP5 significantly increased 60-min sucrose intake compared with saline (11.2 +/- 0.4 ml). Twenty-four hour chow intake also was increased compared with saline (AP5: 31.5 +/- 0.1 g vs. saline: 27.1 +/- 0.6 g). Furthermore, rats did not increase intake of 0.2% saccharin after fourth ventricular AP5 administration (AP5: 9.8 +/- 0.7 ml, vs. saline: 10.5 +/- 0.5 ml). Finally, NTS AP5 (20 ng/30 nl) significantly increased 30- (AP5: 17.2 +/- 0.7 ml vs. saline: 14.6 +/- 1.7 ml), and 60-min (AP5: 19.4 +/- 0.6 ml vs. saline: 15.5 +/- 1.4 ml) sucrose intake, as well as 24-h chow intake (AP5: 31.6 +/- 0.3 g vs. saline: 26.1 +/- 1.2 g). These results support the hypothesis that hindbrain NMDA receptors participate in control of food intake and suggest that this participation also may contribute to control of body weight over a 24-h period.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Leptin and CCK modulate complementary background conductances to depolarize cultured nodose neurons.

We have previously reported that intraceliac infusion of leptin induces a reduction of meal size that depends on intact vagal afferents. This effect of leptin is enhanced in the presence of cholecystokinin (CCK). The mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate vagal afferent neurons are not known. In the present study, we have begun to address this question by using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques to examine the mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate cultured vagal afferents from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that leptin depolarized 41 (60%) of 68 neurons. The magnitude of membrane depolarization was dependent on leptin concentration and occurred in both capsaicin-sensitive and capsaicin-insensitive neurons. We also found that a majority (16 of 22; 73%) of nodose neurons activated by leptin were also sensitive to CCK. CCK-induced depolarization was primarily associated with the increase of an inward current (11 of 12), whereas leptin induced multiple changes in background conductances through a decrease in an outward current (7 of 13), an increase in an inward current (3 of 13), or both (3 of 13). However, further isolation of background currents by recording in solutions that contained only sodium or only potassium revealed that both leptin and CCK were capable of increasing a sodium-dependent conductance or inhibiting a potassium-dependent conductance. Our results support the hypothesis that vagal afferents are a point of convergence and integration of leptin and CCK signaling for control of food intake and suggest multiple ionic mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate vagal afferent neurons.

Afferent Pathways↗

NMDA channels control meal size via central vagal afferent terminals.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) ion channel blocker MK-801 administered systemically or as a nanoliter injection into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), increases meal size. Furthermore, we have observed that ablation of the NTS abolishes increased meal size following systemic injection of dizocilpine (MK-801) and that MK-801-induced increases in intake are attenuated in rats pretreated with capsaicin to destroy small, unmyelinated, primary afferent neurons. These findings led us to hypothesize that NMDA receptors on central vagal afferent terminals or on higher-order NTS neurons innervated by these vagal afferents might mediate increased food intake. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined 15% sucrose intake after 50-nl MK-801 injections ipsilateral or contralateral to unilateral nodose ganglion removal (ganglionectomy). On the side contralateral to ganglionectomy, vagal afferent terminals would be intact and functional, whereas ipsilateral to ganglionectomy vagal afferent terminals would be absent. Three additional control preparations also were included: 1) sham ganglionectomy and 2) subnodose vagotomy either contralateral or ipsilateral to NTS cannula placement. We found that rats with subnodose vagotomies increased their sucrose intake after injections of MK-801 compared with saline, regardless of whether injections were made contralateral (12.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 9.6 +/- 0.3 ml) or ipsilateral (14.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 9.7 +/- 0.4 ml) to vagotomy. Rats with NTS cannula placements contralateral to nodose ganglionectomy also increased their intake after MK-801 (12.2 +/- 0.9 and 9.2 +/- 1.1 ml for MK-801 and saline, respectively). However, rats with placements ipsilateral to ganglionectomy did not respond to MK-801 (8.0 +/- 0.5 ml) compared with saline (8.3 +/- 0.4 ml). We conclude that central vagal afferent terminals are necessary for increased food intake in response to NMDA ion channel blockade. The function of central vagal afferent processes or the activity of higher-order NTS neurons driven by vagal afferents may be modulated by NMDA receptors to control meal size.

Animals↗

CCK enhances response to gastric distension by acting on capsaicin-insensitive vagal afferents.

Capsaicin treatment destroys vagal afferent C fibers and markedly attenuates reduction of food intake and induction of hindbrain Fos expression by CCK. However, both anatomical and electrophysiological data indicate that some gastric vagal afferents are not destroyed by capsaicin. Because CCK enhances behavioral and electrophysiological responses to gastric distension in rats and people, we hypothesized that CCK might enhance the vagal afferent response to gastric distension via an action on capsaicin-insensitive vagal afferents. To test this hypothesis, we quantified expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos) in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of capsaicin-treated (Cap) and control rats (Veh), following gastric balloon distension alone and in combination with CCK injection. In Veh rats, intraperitoneal CCK significantly increased DVC Fos, especially in nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), whereas in Cap rats, CCK did not significantly increase DVC Fos. In contrast to CCK, gastric distension did significantly increase Fos expression in the NTS of both Veh and Cap rats, although distension-induced Fos was attenuated in Cap rats. When CCK was administered during gastric distension, it significantly enhanced NTS Fos expression in response to distension in Cap rats. Furthermore, CCK's enhancement of distension-induced Fos in Cap rats was reversed by the selective CCK-A receptor antagonist lorglumide. We conclude that CCK directly activates capsaicin-sensitive C-type vagal afferents. However, in capsaicin-resistant A-type afferents, CCK's principal action may be facilitation of responses to gastric distension.

Animals↗

Leptin-induced satiation mediated by abdominal vagal afferents.

Leptin is a hormone secreted into the systemic blood primarily by white adipose tissue. However, leptin also is synthesized and stored by cells in the gastric mucosa. Because gastric mucosal leptin is secreted in response to ingestion of a meal, we hypothesized that it might contribute to satiation (meal termination) by acting on gastrointestinal vagal afferent neurons. To test whether leptin is capable of acutely reducing short-term food intake, we measured consumption of a liquid meal (15% sucrose) following low-dose leptin administration via the celiac artery, which perfuses the upper gastrointestinal tract. Leptin (1, 3, 10 mug) was infused via a chronically implanted, nonocclusive celiac arterial catheter or via a jugular vein catheter with its tip in the right cardiac atrium. Fifteen percent sucrose intake was then measured for 30 min. We found that leptin dose dependently inhibited sucrose intake when infused through the celiac catheter but not when infused into the general circulation via a jugular catheter. Plasma leptin concentrations in the general circulation following celiac arterial or jugular leptin infusions were not significantly different. Celiac arterial leptin infusion did not reduce meal size in vagotomized or capsaicin-treated rats. Finally, we also found that reduction of meal size by celiac leptin infusion was markedly enhanced when coinfused with cholecystokinin, a gastrointestinal satiety peptide whose action depends on vagal afferent neurons. Our results support the hypothesis that leptin contributes to satiation by a mechanism dependent on gastrointestinal vagal afferent innervation of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Abdomen↗

Intracerebroventricular administration of MK-801 increases food intake through mechanisms independent of gastric emptying.

Systemic or hindbrain administration of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, increases meal size. To examine whether MK-801 enhances intake by increasing gastric emptying, we administered MK-801 (2.0 microg/3.0 microl) into the fourth ventricle [intracerebroventricular (ICV)] and measured feeding and gastric emptying of 5-ml NaCl or 15% sucrose loads. In a parallel experiment, we examined food intake and gastric emptying following intraperitoneal (IP) injection of MK-801 (100 microg/kg). MK-801, either IP or ICV, increased 30-min sucrose intake compared with control (12.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 9.8 +/- 0.5 and 16.6 +/- 2.0 vs. 10.7 +/- 0.7 ml, for IP and ICV administration, respectively). Also, IP MK-801 increased 5-min gastric emptying of NaCl (4.13 +/- 0.1 ml emptied) and sucrose (3.11 +/- 0.1 ml emptied) compared with control (3.75 +/- 0.2 and 2.28 +/- 0.1 ml emptied for NaCl and sucrose loads, respectively). In contrast, ICV MK-801 did not alter NaCl emptying (3.82 +/- 0.1 ml emptied) compared with control (3.82 +/- 0.3 ml emptied) and actually reduced gastric emptying of sucrose (2.1 +/- 0.2 and 2.94 +/- 0.1 ml emptied, for MK and vehicle, respectively). These data confirm previous results that systemic as well as hindbrain injection of MK-801 increases food intake. However, because ICV MK-801 failed to increase gastric emptying, these results indicate that MK-801 increases food intake through mechanisms independent of altered gastric emptying.

Animals↗

Cooperative activation of cultured vagal afferent neurons by leptin and cholecystokinin.

To test the hypothesis that leptin can directly activate vagal afferent neurons, we used fluorescence imaging to detect acute changes in cytosolic calcium after leptin application to primary cultures of vagal afferent neurons dissociated from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that approximately 40% of vagal afferent neurons exposed to leptin (40 ng/ml) responded with rapid and reversible increases in cytosolic calcium. These responses were dependent upon extracellular calcium. As previously reported, about 35% of vagal afferents increase cytosolic calcium in response to the gut-peptide cholecystokinin (CCK). A majority (74%) of neurons that responded to CCK also exhibited increases in cytosolic calcium in response to leptin. In addition, synergistic increases in cytosolic calcium were observed when leptin and CCK were applied in combination. These results demonstrate that leptin acts directly on vagal afferent neurons to trigger acute influxes of extracellular calcium. Our results also suggest cooperation between leptin and CCK in the activation of some vagal afferent neurons. Acute activation of vagal afferents by leptin alone and in combination with CCK may contribute to modulation of visceral reflexes and control of food intake.

Animals↗

Release of endogenous cholecystokinin in response to gastric preloads in rats on postnatal days 9--12.

Release of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) from the small intestine by gastric loads was investigated in rats on postnatal days 9--12 (P9--P12). After 5--6 h of deprivation, pups received 5% b.wt. loads of water, 0.9% NaCl, 20% glucose, 20% maltose, 200 mg soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) in 0.9% saline or sham load. Plasma was collected 15 min after the loads, and the concentration of bioactive CCK was measured by a specific and sensitive bioassay. Loads of SBTI and water significantly increased plasma CCK compared to sham loads, but loads of saline, glucose, and maltose did not. The efficacy of the water load was not demonstrated in adult rats. The results suggest that the previously reported reduction of intake during independent ingestion by hypertonic preloads of glucose and maltose was not mediated by the release of CCK sufficient to be detected in the plasma under these conditions.

Animals↗

Attenuated satiation response to intestinal nutrients in rats that do not express CCK-A receptors.

Pharmacological experiments suggest that satiation associated with intestinal infusion of several nutrients is mediated by CCK-A receptors. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty, (OLETF), rats do not express CCK-A receptors and are insensitive to the satiation-producing effects of exogenous CCK. To further evaluate the role of CCK-A receptors in satiation by intestinal nutrient infusion, we examined intake of solid (pelleted rat chow) or liquid (12.5% glucose) food intake, following intestinal infusions of fats (oleic acid or fat emulsion), sugars (maltotriose or glucose), or peptone in OLETF rats and Long Evans Tokushima Otsuka control rats (LETO). Intestinal infusion of glucose or maltotriose reduced solid food intake more in LETO than in OLETF rats from 30 min through 4 h post infusion. Reduction of solid food intake by intestinal infusions of fat or peptone did not differ between OLETF and LETO rats during the first 30 min post infusion, but reduction of intake by these infusates was attenuated in OLETF rats over the ensuing 4h post infusion. Intestinal infusion of glucose, oleate, fat emulsion and peptone reduced 30-min intake of 12.5% glucose more in LETO than OLETF rats. Furthermore, pretreatment with the CCK-A receptor antagonist, devazepide, attenuated intestinal nutrient-induced reduction of food intake only in LETO, but not OLETF rats. Our results confirm pharmacological results, indicating that CCK-A receptors participate in satiation by nutrients that elevate plasma CCK concentrations, as well as by nutrients that do not stimulate secretion of endocrine CCK. In addition, our results indicate: 1) that OLETF rats have deficits in the satiation response to a variety of intestinal nutrient infusions; 2) that the temporal pattern for CCK-A receptor participation in satiation by intestinal nutrients is different during ingestion of liquid and solid foods and 3) that intestinal nutrients provide some satiation signals that are CCK-A receptor mediated and some that are not.

Animals↗

Diminished satiation in rats exposed to elevated levels of endogenous or exogenous cholecystokinin.

Rats maintained on a high-fat (HF) diet exhibit reduced sensitivity to the satiation-producing effect of exogenous CCK. Because more CCK is released in response to HF meals than low-fat (LF) meals, we hypothesized that increased circulating CCK associated with ingestion of HF diets contributes to the development of decreased CCK sensitivity. To test this hypothesis, we implanted osmotic minipumps filled with either NaCl or CCK octapeptide into the peritoneal cavity. Subsequently, we examined the effect of intraperitoneal NaCl or CCK (0.5 microg/kg) injection on 30-min food intake. CCK significantly reduced 30-min food intake less in rats implanted with CCK-releasing minipumps compared with those with NaCl-releasing minipumps. Because dietary protein is a potent releaser of endogenous CCK, we hypothesized that rats adapted to a high-protein (HP) diet might also exhibit reduced sensitivity to exogenous CCK. Therefore, in a second experiment, we examined CCK-induced reduction of food intake in rats maintained on LF and rats maintained on HF or HP. Ingestion of LF stimulates very little endogenous CCK secretion, whereas both HF and HP markedly increase plasma CCK concentrations. Both doses of CCK reduced food intake significantly less in HF and HP rats compared with LF rats. There were no differences in 24-h food intake, body weight, or body fat composition among LF-, HF-, and HP-fed rats. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that sustained elevation of CCK either by infusion of exogenous CCK or by dietary-induced elevation of plasma CCK contributes to the development of reduced sensitivity to exogenous CCK.

Adipose Tissue↗

Reduced hindbrain and enteric neuronal response to intestinal oleate in rats maintained on high-fat diet.

Rats maintained on a high-fat diet (HF) reduce their food intake less in response to intestinal infusion of oleic acid than rats maintained on a low-fat diet (LF). Inhibition of gastric emptying by intestinal infusion of oleate also is attenuated in rats fed a high-fat diet. It is well documented that intestinal oleate reduces food intake and inhibits gastric emptying via vagal sensory neurons. In addition, activation of intrinsic myenteric neurons participates in oleate-induced changes in gastrointestinal motility. To determine whether diminished behavioral and gastric reflex responses to intestinal oleate infusion is accompanied by reduced vagal sensory and myenteric neuronal activation, we examined expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-li) in the dorsal hindbrains and the small intestinal enteric plexuses of rats maintained on HF or LF, following, intraintestinal infusion of oleate (0.06 kcal/ml) or the oligosaccharide, maltotriose (0.26 kcal/ml). Following oleate infusion there was a dramatic increase in the number of Fos-li nuclei in the NTS and AP of LF rats but not in HF rats. There also were significantly more Fos-li neuronal nuclei in the upper small intestinal submucosal and myenteric plexuses of the LF rats than the HF rats. In contrast to the effects of oleate infusion, maltotriose infusion significantly and similarly increased Fos-li nuclei in the hindbrains of both LF and HF rats. The results indicate that adaptation to high-fat diet selectively reduces vagal and enteric neuronal sensitivity to intestinal oleate and suggests that reduced sensitivity to the satiation and gastric inhibitory effects of oleate in high-fat fed rats may be mediated by a selective reduction in the neuronal response to intestinal stimulation by fatty acid.

Animals↗

Vagus nerve participates in CCK-induced Fos expression in hindbrain but not myenteric plexus.

CCK activates neurons in rat hindbrain and small intestinal myenteric ganglia. Activation of neurons at both sites is mediated through type A CCK receptors. CCK-induced activation of hindbrain neurons is mediated by capsaicin-sensitive vagal fibers. Therefore, it is possible that CCK-induced activation of myenteric neurons also depends upon vagal activation. To test this hypothesis, we examined hindbrain and myenteric neuronal expression of Fos immunoreactivity following CCK injection in rats that had undergone bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy or systemic treatment with capsaicin, a neurotoxin that destroys small unmyelinated primary sensory neurons in the vagus, as well as in other peripheral nerves. We found that CCK (2 or 10 microg/kg) significantly increased Fos expression in both the brains and small intestinal myenteric plexuses of control rats. CCK-induced Fos expression was abolished or attenuated in the brains of vagotomized or capsaicin-treated animals. However, vagotomy or capsaicin treatment did not diminish CCK-induced Fos expression in the small intestinal myenteric plexus. We conclude that CCK-induced activation of intestinal myenteric neurons does not depend on activation of vagal sensory or motor neurons, while activation of neurons in the dorsal hindbrain is mediated, at least in part by CCK-induced activity of small unmyelinated vagal sensory neurons.

Animals↗

Lesions of the dorsal vagal complex abolish increases in meal size induced by NMDA receptor blockade.

Rats increase meal size and duration after intraperitoneal injection of MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. This effect depends upon intact vagal fibers, since the antagonist does not increase intake when visceral afferent and efferent pathways have been interrupted by bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. NMDA receptors have been demonstrated on vagal afferent fibers and on second-order neurons in the medial subnucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the area postrema (AP), and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. To determine whether neurons in these structures are crucial for NMDA receptor effects on feeding, we examined the effect of MK-801 on intake of 15% sucrose in rats with aspiration lesions of the AP and adjacent NTS. MK-801 (100 microg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased sucrose intake in these lesioned rats compared to sham-lesioned rats (32.3+/-0.1 ml versus 23.3+/-0.1 ml, P<0.001). However, when the AP/NTS aspiration lesions were combined with bilateral electrolytic destruction of the medial NTS and the DMV, lesioned rats consumed nearly the same amount of sucrose after either saline or MK-801 (25.9+/-2.4 ml versus 24.3+/-3. 0 ml; P=0.687). By contrast, sham-lesioned controls ingested significantly more sucrose following MK-801 compared to saline (19. 8+/-1.0 ml versus 13.1+/-0.8 ml, P<0.001). These results suggest that an intact caudomedial NTS and/or DMV are necessary for increases in intake induced by NMDA receptor blockade. While the AP might participate in MK-801-induced enhancement of intake, it is not essential for this effect.

Animals↗

CCK-A receptor activation induces fos expression in myenteric neurons of rat small intestine.

Cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone secreted from endocrine cells of the small intestine, participates in the control of motility and secretion in the gastrointestinal tract, and in the control of food intake. At least some of the effects of CCK on intestinal function appear to be mediated via activation of intrinsic neurons in the myenteric plexus. However, the distribution of CCK-responsive enteric neurons within the rat small intestine is not known. Neither has the role of CCK-A receptors in the activation of rat myenteric neurons been investigated. Therefore, to determine the distribution of CCK-responsive neurons in the small intestinal myenteric plexus we utilized immunohistochemical detection of Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos, to identify neurons that were activated by exogenous CCK. We also monitored Fos expression in the dorsal hindbrain, and examined CCK-induced Fos expression in the presence or absence of a receptor antagonist for the type-A CCK receptor. We found that CCK significantly increased Fos expression in the hindbrain and in myenteric neurons of the duodenum and jejunum, but not the ileum. Neuronal Fos responsiveness in both brain and myenteric neurons was mediated by CCK-A receptors, as CCK-induced Fos expression was eliminated in rats pretreated with a CCK-A receptor antagonist. We conclude that CCK activates small intestinal myenteric neurons, via CCK-A receptors. Activation of these intrinsic intestinal neurons may participate in reflexes and behaviors that are mediated by CCK.

Animals↗

High fat maintenance diet attenuates hindbrain neuronal response to CCK.

Rats maintained on a high fat diet reduce their food intake less in response to exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) than rats maintained on a low fat diet. In addition, inhibition of gastric emptying by CCK is markedly attenuated in rats maintained on a high fat diet. Both inhibition of food intake and gastric emptying by CCK are mediated by sensory fibers in the vagus nerve. These fibers terminate on dorsal hindbrain neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract and area postrema. To determine whether diet-induced changes in the control of feeding and gastric emptying are accompanied by altered vagal sensory responsiveness, we examined dorsal hindbrain expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-li) following intraperitoneal CCK injection of rats maintained on high fat or low fat diets. Following CCK, there were numerous Fos-li nuclei in the area postrema and in the commissural and medial subnuclei of the nucleus of the solitary tract of rats maintained on a low fat diet. However, Fos-li was absent or rare in the brains of rats maintained on a high fat diet. These data suggest that the vagal sensory response to exogenous CCK is reduced in rats maintained on a high fat diet. Our results also are consistent with our previous findings that CCK-induced reduction of food intake and gastric emptying are both attenuated in rats maintained on a high fat diet. In addition our results support the hypothesis that attenuation of CCK-induced inhibition of food intake and gastric emptying may be due to diet-induced diminution of vagal CCK responsiveness.

Animals↗

Adaptation to high-fat diet reduces inhibition of gastric emptying by CCK and intestinal oleate.

Rats maintained on low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diets were fitted with gastric cannulas and duodenal catheters. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.250-2.0 microg/kg cholecystokinin (CCK) significantly inhibited gastric emptying of a 5-ml NaCl load in LF rats by 26.2-55. 1% compared with emptying after vehicle injection. By contrast, CCK-induced inhibition of gastric emptying was significantly less in HF rats given the same CCK doses (10.0-31.7% inhibition over the same CCK dose range). A 20-min intraduodenal infusion of oleate (0.03 or 0.06 kcal/ml) also resulted in significant inhibition of gastric emptying in LF rats (24 and 89%, respectively). Oleate-induced inhibition of gastric emptying was significantly attenuated in rats maintained on the HF diet (2 and 56%, respectively). Unlike CCK injections or oleate infusion, intraduodenal maltotriose infusion inhibited gastric emptying to a similar degree in LF and HF rats (77 and 78%, respectively). These results indicate that feeding HF diets diminishes the enterogastric inhibition of gastric emptying by intestinal oleate and diminishes the ability of CCK to inhibit gastric emptying.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Reduction of food intake by intestinal macronutrient infusion is not reversed by NMDA receptor blockade.

Rats increase their intake of food, but not water, after intraperitoneal injection of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate-activated ion channels. We hypothesized that MK-801 might enhance intake by interfering with intestinal chemosensory signals. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of the antagonist on 15% sucrose intake after an intraduodenal infusion of maltotriose, oleic acid, or phenylalanine in both real- and sham-feeding paradigms. MK-801 (100 microg/kg) significantly increased sucrose intake regardless of the composition of the infusate during real feeding. Furthermore, MK-801 had no effect on reduction of sucrose intake by intestinal nutrient infusions in sham-feeding rats. These results indicate that MK-801 does not increase meal size and duration by interfering with signals activated by intestinal macronutrients.

Animals↗