Peripheral bombesin induces gastric vagal afferent activation in rats

Bombesin's influence on gastric vagal afferent discharge (GVAD) was studied in urethan-anesthetized rats. Vehicle and peptides were injected intravenously at 30-min intervals. Cholecystokinin (CCK; 300 pmol) and bombesin (300 pmol) increased ongoing multiunit GVAD by 153 +/- 59 and 162 +/- 37%, respectively; similar increases were induced by a second injection of bombesin and CCK. The bombesin antagonist, ICI-216140, prevented bombesin-induced increase in GVAD, whereas the CCK response was not influenced. The CCK-A receptor antagonist devazepide reduced the activation of GVAD induced by bombesin from 107 +/- 11 to 63 +/- 6%, while abolishing the CCK response. Devazepide given alone or in combination with ICI-216140 did not modify gastric distension (3 ml)-induced increase in GVAD. Of 22 single units that were activated by gastric load (4 ml), 17 and 20 units responded also to bombesin (620 pmol) and CCK (870 pmol), respectively. Of the nine units that did not respond to gastric load, eight had an increase in GVAD induced by both bombesin and CCK. There was no specific binding of 125I-labeled [Tyr4]bombesin on cervical vagus, either intact or 24 h after ligation. These data suggest that intravenous bombesin-induced stimulation of GVAD is indirect and initially mediated through specific receptor activation influencing gastric smooth muscle and the release of CCK.