Bombesin and somatostatin related peptides: effects on oxygen consumption

Bombesin and the somatostatin analog, desAA-[D-Trp8]-somatostatin (ODT8-SS), act within the central nervous system to alter animals' oxygen consumption (VO2) in a manner consistent with the observed effects of these peptides on temperature regulation. Bombesin given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) to rats at cold ambient temperatures prevents elevation of VO2 but does not lower VO2 below the values observed at thermoneutrality. ODT8-SS given i.c.v. increases VO2 of animals at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees C and prevents bombesin inhibition of VO2 at low ambient temperatures. Thus, bombesin inhibits VO2 induced by cold and results in hypothermia, ODT8-SS prevents bombesin-induced inhibition of VO2 and bombesin-induced hypothermia and, ODT8-SS increases VO2 and produces hyperthermia in animals at thermoneutral temperatures.