Somatostatin administration modifies food intake, body weight, and gut motility in rat

The effects of a long period of relatively high and nearly constant levels of Somatostatin (SRIF) on the control of food ingestion and body weight gain were investigated; weight gain occurs via concurrent modifications of food and fluid intake and in vitro gut motility. Fluid intake was not influenced by SRIF treatment. Food intake, body weight, body weight gain, and gut motility decreased after SRIF treatment, and, in some cases, these effects were dose-dependent. Food intake increased significantly during light phase of SRIF treatment. Thus, SRIF treatment produces facilitation of food intake in the light and inhibition in the dark. The suppression seen in the dark may be the result of a preferential activation of the inhibitory response. The increase of food intake during the light may be explained by a decreased availability of body fats as fuels for metabolism since SRIF inhibits GH release, which is involved is the breakdown of adipose tissue into fuels; lower fats synthesis during nocturnal feeding; or both. Decreased gastrointestinal motility also may explain the lower food intake and decreased body weight gain following SRIF treatment.