Cholecystokinin is partly responsible for reduced food intake and body weight loss after total gastrectomy in rats.
PURPOSE: To determine the cause of body weight loss after total gastrectomy. METHODS: We evaluated the acute effect of exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) on food intake and the chronic effect of CCK receptor blockade on food intake and body weight after total gastrectomy in rats. RESULTS: Exogenous CCK significantly reduced food intake in gastrectomized rats; this was blocked by administration of a CCK-A but not a CCK-B receptor antagonist. Chronic treatment with a CCK-A or CCK-B receptor antagonist after total gastrectomy in rats significantly increased postoperative food intake and body weight. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that endogenous CCK is partly responsible for reduced food intake and body weight loss after total gastrectomy in rats.