Effects of cholecystokinin on liquid diet intake of early weaned piglets

The effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on the consumption of a liquid diet was investigated in 10 piglets, weaned on Day 1, housed individually in cages, and offered a commercial diet for suckling from feeding bottles nine times a day at 2-h intervals with an 8-h break during the night. CCK-8 was administered to piglets (n = 5) on Days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, and 23 in single intraperitoneal doses of 4 microg x kg(-1) in saline, 5-7 min before the first morning feeding at 0600 h. The relative diet intake in CCK-treated animals was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) on Days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 23 compared to saline-treated controls, and on Days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 23 when the consumption at 0600 and 0800 h in CCK-treated piglets was compared. Our data support the notion that the short-term mechanisms involved in food intake control of piglets are relatively complex and operative at the time of birth, and that CCK plays a role in their food intake regulatory cascade.