The feeding responses evoked by cholecystokinin are mediated by vagus and splanchnic nerves

Total or selective branch vagotomy attenuates the reduction of cumulative food intake by cholecystokinin (CCK)-8 and CCK-33 respectively. However, the role of the sympathetic innervation of the gut and the role of the vagus nerve in feeding responses, which include meal size (MS) and intermeal interval (IMI), evoked by CCK-8 and CCK-33 have not been evaluated. Here, we tested the effects of total subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VGX) and celiaco-mesenteric ganglionectomy (CMGX) on the previous feeding responses by CCK-8 and CCK-33 (0, 1, 3, and 5 nmol/kg given intraperitoneally). We found (1) that both peptides reduced meal size and CCK-8 (5 nmol) and CCK-33 (1 and 3 nmol) prolonged IMI, (2) that VGX attenuated the reduction of MS but failed to attenuate the prolongation of IMI by both peptides and (3) that CMGX attenuated the reduction of meal size by CCK-8 and the prolongation of IMI by both peptides. Therefore, the feeding responses evoked by CCK-8 require intact vagus and splanchnic nerves: the reduction of MS by CCK-33 requires an intact vagus nerve, and the prolongation of IMI requires the splanchnic nerve. These findings demonstrate the differential peripheral neuronal mediation of the feeding responses evoked by CCK-8 and CCK-33.