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Biomedical subjects

R A Liddle

Publications and source records attributed to R A Liddle.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Somatostatin regulates duodenal cholecystokinin and somatostatin messenger RNA.

The gastrointestinal peptides, cholecystokinin (CCK) and somatostatin, are produced by discrete endocrine cells in the mucosa of the small intestine. Although somatostatin may inhibit CCK secretion, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. The present study was designed to determine the effect of somatostatin on intestinal CCK and somatostatin mRNA levels. Rats, prepared with indwelling intraduodenal and jugular cannulas, were first fed an elemental diet that did not stimulate CCK release. Next, as a means of stimulating CCK secretion, soybean trypsin inhibitor was added to the diet and perfused intraduodenally at 50 mg/h for 24 h. Trypsin inhibitor caused an 11-fold increase in plasma CCK levels and a 2.4-fold increase in duodenal CCK mRNA levels. Simultaneous intravenous infusion of somatostatin-14 (1-100 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) reduced trypsin inhibitor-stimulated CCK levels by 50% and lowered trypsin inhibitor-stimulated CCK mRNA levels by 58%. Somatostatin infusion also reduced intestinal somatostatin mRNA levels stimulated by trypsin inhibitor but did not affect basal somatostatin mRNA levels. Duodenal CCK and somatostatin peptide concentrations did not change under any of the experimental conditions. These studies demonstrate that somatostatin reduces duodenal CCK mRNA levels stimulated by diet and suggest that somatostatin itself inhibits duodenal somatostatin gene expression.

Animals↗

Regulation of pancreatic endocrine function by cholecystokinin: studies with MK-329, a nonpeptide cholecystokinin receptor antagonist.

A cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, MK-329, was used to explore the physiological role of CCK in regulating pancreatic endocrine function in humans. The ability of CCK to increase plasma pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations and blockade of this effect with MK-329 were evaluated in a double blind, balanced, four-period cross-over study. Eight subjects received single oral doses of 0.5, 2, or 10 mg MK-329 or placebo, followed by an iv infusion of CCK-8 (34 ng/kg.h). In placebo-treated subjects, PP increased from basal levels of 70 +/- 15 (+/- SE) to peak values of 291 +/- 58 pg/mL after CCK infusion (P less than 0.05 compared to basal). This increase in plasma PP concentration was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by MK-329, with 10 mg antagonizing the stimulatory effect of CCK infusion by nearly 80%. Second, the effect of MK-329 on meal-stimulated pancreatic endocrine responses was evaluated by giving placebo or 10 mg MK-329 2 h before ingestion of a mixed meal. Eight subjects were treated in a randomized two-period cross-over fashion. With placebo treatment, peak postprandial plasma insulin, glucagon, and glucose concentrations were 101 +/- 8 microU/mL, 195 +/- 15 pg/mL, and 150 +/- 10 mg/dL, respectively (all P less than 0.05). The integrated PP response following the meal was 56.3 +/- 11.1 ng/mL.minute. With MK-329 treatment, the integrated PP concentration was reduced to 33.9 +/- 2.2 ng/mL.min (P less than 0.05 compared to placebo treatment). Mean postprandial insulin, glucagon, and glucose concentrations did not differ between placebo and MK-329 treatments. We conclude that CCK receptor blockade with 10 mg MK-329 does not alter plasma insulin, glucagon, or glucose responses to a mixed meal. However, the observation that physiological concentrations of CCK increase plasma levels of PP, and the finding that CCK receptor blockade selectively attenuates the postprandial increase in plasma PP concentrations support a physiological role for CCK in regulating PP secretion.

Administration, Oral↗

Cholecystokinin does not stimulate prosomatostatin-derived peptides in man.

In man, plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) and somatostatin-28 (S-28) levels increase after ingestion of a mixed meal. Both peptides originate from the gastrointestinal tract. In supra- and periphysiological doses, CCK stimulates the release of somatostatin-14 from in vitro pancreatic islets and gastric cells and increases circulating somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in dogs, leading to the conjecture that CCK regulates somatostatin-like immunoreactivity secretion. Nonetheless, whether CCK is responsible in part for the meal-induced rise in S-28 in man has not been established. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine if CCK, at both physiological and supraphysiological concentrations, increases the circulating levels of prosomatostatin (proS)-derived peptides in humans. On 3 separate days, five healthy men ate a mixed liquid meal or received iv infusions of CCK at rates of 18 or 38 pmol/kg.h. Plasma levels of pro-S-derived peptides, including pro-S, S-14, S-13, S-28, and CCK, were measured. Basal CCK levels averaged 0.9 +/- 0.1 pmol/L and increased after the meal to a peak level of 5.4 +/- 1.5 pmol/L and averaged 3.1 +/- 1.2 pmol/L over 90 min. The mean basal levels of pro-S, S-14, and S-13, measured collectively, was 6.1 +/- 0.4 pmol/L eq S14 and was unaltered by food intake. The S-28 level was 6.7 +/- 0.6 pmol/L and rose to a zenith of 13.1 +/- 3.3 pmol/L by 90 min. Infusion of CCK at 18 and 38 pmol/kg.h produced steady state plasma CCK levels of 4.1 +/- 1.1 and 9.9 +/- 1.5 pmol/L, respectively. Basal levels of pro-S-derived peptides were unaltered during the infusion of either the low or high dose of CCK. We conclude that CCK by itself is not a physiological signal to the release of pro-S-derived peptides in man.

Adult↗

Inhibitory regulation of rat exocrine pancreas by peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide.

Peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) have been shown to inhibit exocrine pancreatic secretion in vivo in a variety of species. This study evaluates the type of stimulation inhibited by PYY and PP by examining, in urethan-anesthetized rats, the inhibition of pancreatic secretion when stimulated to a comparable extent by cholecystokinin (CCK), 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), bethanecol, and electrical vagal nerve stimulation. PYY at maximal infusion rates inhibited stimulation by CCK by 83%, bethanecol by 55%, and electrical nerve stimulation by 40%. The inhibition of CCK stimulation was half maximal at 250 pmol.kg-1.h-1. By contrast, PYY totally inhibited 2DG-stimulated secretion with half-maximal inhibition at 10 pmol. kg-1.h-1. PP acted similarly to PYY in inhibiting CCK and 2DG-stimulated pancreatic protein secretion but was fivefold weaker in each case. These findings indicate that PYY and PP have multiple actions but preferentially inhibit neurally mediated pancreatic secretion at a preacinar cell locus, possibly at a central site of action.

Animals↗

Pancreatic digestive enzyme gene expression: effects of CCK and soybean trypsin inhibitor.

Regulation of pancreatic gene expression by cholecystokinin (CCK) was examined in the rat using cloned cDNA probes to quantify changes in specific mRNAs (amylase, trypsinogen I, chymotrypsinogen B, and ribonuclease). Rats were administered intraduodenally an elemental liquid diet. Plasma CCK levels were raised to levels comparable to physiological postprandial levels either by intraduodenal perfusion with soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) (6.9 +/- 1.0 pM, n = 8) or by continuous intravenous infusion with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8, 6.0 +/- 0.9 pM, n = 6). SBTI infusion resulted in fivefold increases in trypsinogen I and chymotrypsinogen B mRNA levels after 48 h. In contrast SBTI infusion had no effect on amylase mRNA levels and led to a decrease in ribonuclease mRNA levels to approximately 50% of control after 48 h. Intravenous infusion with CCK-8 for 24 h resulted in plasma levels of CCK comparable to those obtained with SBTI and had similar effects on digestive enzyme mRNA levels. These data suggested that SBTI acted via its ability to raise plasma CCK levels. To further test the specificity of these effects, animals were infused intraduodenally with the specific CCK receptor antagonist L364,718. Although the antagonist itself had no effect on digestive enzyme mRNA levels, antagonist treatment totally abolished the effects of both CCK infusion and SBTI treatment. These data therefore indicate that CCK regulates digestive enzyme gene expression at plasma concentrations comparable to physiological postprandial levels. Furthermore, the ability of SBTI infusion to increase plasma CCK accounts for its effects on pancreatic digestive enzyme mRNA levels.

Amylases↗

Plasma secretin, CCK, and pancreatic secretion in response to dietary fat in the rat.

The role of fat in regulation of pancreatic secretion was studied in conscious rats by measuring pancreatic secretion and plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin responses to intraluminal infusion of fat, protein, or trypsin inhibitor via the duodenum. In rats with pancreatic juice continuously returned to the intestine, intraduodenal infusion of 20% emulsified fat (Liposyn), 10% casein, and 0.4% ovomucoid trypsin inhibitor (OMTI) stimulated equivalent increases of approximately threefold in pancreatic protein output. Proglumide reduced fat-stimulated pancreatic protein secretion by greater than 90% but did not inhibit the response to OMTI. Fat significantly increased plasma CCK from basal levels of 0.5 pM to 2-3 pM, but it was a weaker stimulant of CCK secretion than casein (peak CCK levels greater than 10 pM) or OMTI (peak CCK levels 5-6 pM). Fat significantly stimulated secretin release (21.7 pM) compared with casein (6.8 pM), OMTI (4.4 pM), and NaCl (3.5 pM). The inhibition of fat-stimulated pancreatic secretion by proglumide indicates that the small amounts of CCK released by fat are necessary for a normal pancreatic response, suggesting that this response may be the result of potentiation between secretin and small amounts of CCK.

Animals↗

Feedback regulation by trypsin: evidence for intraluminal CCK-releasing peptide.

The mechanism by which intraluminal proteases inhibit pancreatic secretion and CCK release was investigated in conscious rats. We hypothesized that the stimulation of pancreatic secretion and CCK release that occurs in the absence of luminal trypsin is caused by a trypsin-sensitive, cholecystokinin (CCK)-releasing peptide that is tonically secreted intraluminally by the small intestine. We tested whether rapid saline perfusion of the lumen of the proximal intestine in rats with jejunostomies would wash out the putative peptide, thereby inhibiting the spontaneous pancreatic secretion caused by diverting bile and pancreatic juice from the intestine. Rats were prepared with cannulas draining bile and pancreatic juice, a duodenal cannula and a jejunostomy 10-12 cm from the ligament of Treitz. During diversion of bile and pancreatic juice to the exterior, the proximal intestine was perfused with phosphate-buffered saline at 3 ml/min via the duodenal cannula and the intestinal washes collected from the jejunostomy outlet. Rapid intestinal perfusion significantly inhibited pancreatic protein and fluid secretion stimulated by diversion of bile and pancreatic juice to the exterior. Reinfusion of the concentrated intestinal washes prevented the "washout" inhibition. The active factor in the intestinal washes was heat stable and trypsin sensitive. Rapid washout perfusion of isolated jejunal loops in Thiry-Vella fistula rats reduced plasma CCK from 20.4 +/- 3.6 to 10.4 +/- 1.8 pM, and reinfusion of the washes into the loop returned plasma CCK to 17.1 +/- 3.8 pM. The results support the hypothesis that a trypsin-sensitive, CCK-releasing peptide in intestinal secretions mediates feedback regulation of pancreatic secretion in rats.

Animals↗

Intraventricular CCK inhibits food intake and gastric emptying in baboons.

To evaluate the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) as a physiological regulator of meal size and gastric emptying in the baboon, we measured plasma CCK bioactivity during 30-min meals alone and after intravenous or intraventricular infusions of CCK COOH-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8). Both intravenous (2 micrograms/kg) and intraventricular (1 microgram/kg) CCK-8 administration resulted in plasma CCK elevations comparable with normal prandial CCK levels: peak plasma levels were 4.1 +/- 0.9, 7.1 +/- 1.1, and 4.9 +/- 2.2 pM for pooled intravenous and intraventricular control, intravenous, and intraventricular conditions. Also, both treatments appeared to reduce gastric emptying as indicated by a significant suppression of postprandial plasma insulin and glucose levels. However, only intraventricular CCK reliably reduced meal size (percent of control meal size was 91 +/- 5% or 43 +/- 19% with intravenous or intraventricular CCK). We conclude that circulating endogenous CCK is a potent postprandial endocrine regulator of gastric emptying. However, the ability of CCK to decrease meal size may require direct interaction with the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Endogenous cholecystokinin does not decrease food intake or gastric emptying in fasted rats.

To investigate the hypothesized inhibitory effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) released from the small intestine on food intake and gastric emptying, we infused soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) into the stomach or duodenum of male rats deprived of food for 17 h. Intraduodenal infusions of STI (100-200 mg) before real or sham feeding, or during sham feeding, had no effect on food intake. Intragastric infusions of STI (100-200 mg) also had no effect on gastric emptying. Identical infusions of STI, however, increased bioassayable plasma CCK six to ninefold. The failure of endogenous, small intestinal CCK released by STI to decrease food intake or to decrease gastric emptying is evidence against the hypothesis that the inhibitions of food intake and of gastric emptying are physiological functions of small intestinal CCK in food-deprived rats. In contrast to the negative results with STI, administration of exogenous CCK-8 (2-4 micrograms/kg ip) significantly inhibited food intake and gastric emptying despite producing smaller increases of plasma CCK than STI produced. The reason for the differential effects of exogenous and endogenous CCK is not clear and requires further investigation.

Animals↗

Effects of a novel cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, MK-329, on gallbladder contraction and gastric emptying in humans. Implications for the physiology of CCK.

To explore the physiology of cholecystokinin (CCK) in humans, we investigated the effect on gallbladder contraction and gastric emptying of a recently developed CCK receptor antagonist, MK-329. In a double-blind, four-period crossover study eight subjects received single doses of 0.5, 2, or 10 mg MK-329, or placebo, followed by an intravenous infusion of CCK-8 (30 pmol/kg.h). In placebo-treated subjects gallbladder volumes decreased on average to 43% of initial volumes after 2 h of CCK infusion. MK-329 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of CCK-stimulated gallbladder contraction with 10 mg producing complete blockade (P less than 0.01, cf. placebo). Gallbladder contraction and gastric emptying rates after a mixed meal were then measured in a two-period crossover study. Subjects received placebo or 10 mg of MK-329 2 h before eating. Gastric emptying of both solids and liquids was measured simultaneously by gamma scintigraphy. In placebo-treated subjects plasma CCK levels increased postprandially to 2.3 pM, gallbladder volumes decreased 68.4 +/- 3.8% (SE), and the times for 50% emptying of liquids and solids from the stomach were 58 +/- 10 and 128 +/- 8 min, respectively. In MK-329-treated subjects there was a marked elevation in peak CCK levels to 13.8 pM (P less than 0.01, cf. placebo), and gallbladder contraction was completely inhibited. Solid and liquid emptying rates were unaffected. These findings demonstrate that (a) MK-329 is a potent, orally active antagonist of CCK in humans, and (b) CCK is the major regulator of postprandial gallbladder contraction. These data also support the concept of negative feedback regulation of CCK secretion and suggest that mechanisms other than CCK play a dominant role in the regulation of postprandial gastric emptying rates.

Adult↗

Integrated actions of cholecystokinin on the gastrointestinal tract: use of the cholecystokinin bioassay.

This article has centered on the hormonal actions of CCK on a variety of different target tissues. Until the development of specific assays for measuring plasma levels of the hormone, it was not possible to distinguish physiologic from pharmacologic effects. However, by the methods described earlier it now has become clear that CCK, in physiologic concentrations, stimulates gallbladder contraction, delays gastric emptying, potentiates insulin secretion, and may affect satiety. Actions of CCK that have been studied by radioimmunoassay methods and determined also to be physiologic include stimulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion. Other actions of CCK that may be physiologic but have not been thoroughly investigated include effects on bowel motility, relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter pressure, regulation of sphincter of Oddi pressure, effects on analgesia, and modification of behavior. Some of these actions may be attributable to endogenous, but neurally released CCK and, therefore, would not be hormonal actions. However, continued investigations with specific CCK receptor antagonists together with accurate measurements of circulating levels of CCK should make it possible to define the physiologic importance of CCK on these other potential sites of action. The variety of CCK's physiologic effects emphasizes its integrative function on both digestive and metabolic processes. After a meal, in a highly coordinated fashion, CCK (1) regulates the movement of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract, (2) contracts the gallbladder and stimulates pancreatic exocrine secretion to facilitate digestion, and (3) potentiates amino acid-induced insulin secretion and delays gastric emptying to maintain euglycemia. An effect to reduce food intake following food ingestion would be a logical extension of these integrated actions. Thus, CCK appears to have an essential role in regulating the intake, processing, and distribution of essential nutrients.

Amylases↗

Gallstone formation during weight-reduction dieting.

We investigated the development of gallstones over an 8-week period from the onset of dieting in 51 obese men and women and 26 nondieting control subjects. Gallbladder examinations were performed by abdominal real-time ultrasonography for the detection of gallstones. Initial sonography was performed prior to dieting and only those subjects in whom initial sonograms showed no gallstones or sludge were included in the study. Repeated sonography was performed at 4-week intervals for 8 weeks while they remained on a 2100-kJ/d diet. Initial weight of subjects prior to dieting averaged 105.9 +/- 3.8 kg (162% of ideal body weight) and decreased to 89.4 +/- 3.2 kg (137.3% of ideal body weight) after 8 weeks of dieting. Sonography performed after 4 weeks of dieting revealed new-onset gallbladder sludge in 1 subject and gallstones in 4 subjects. After 8 weeks of dieting sludge was detected in 3 subjects and gallstones in 13 (25.5%). In contrast, none of the nondieting subjects developed any detectable gallbladder abnormalities. During the dieting period, 1 of 51 subjects developed symptoms of biliary colic, necessitating cholecystectomy. On cessation of dieting with reinstitution of normal feeding, 2 additional subjects with stones developed symptoms severe enough to require cholecystectomy. In all 3 cases, cholesterol gallstones were recovered at the time of surgery. Eleven of the 13 patients with gallstones were followed up for 6 months after discontinuation of the diet. Besides the 3 undergoing cholecystectomy, 4 subjects had gallstones on follow-up ultrasound examination, while sonographically detectable gallstones had disappeared in 4 subjects. We conclude that this form of weight-reduction dieting predisposes to the development of gallstones and that gallstone formation is a risk of this type of prolonged calorie restriction. Dissolution or evacuation of gallstones may occur with resumption of a normal diet.

Adult↗

Meal-related cholecystokinin secretion in eating and affective disorders.

The satiety-inducing effects of centrally and peripherally administered cholecystokinin (CCK) in experimental animals have been well documented. Recently, studies in humans showed that CCK is released into plasma following food ingestion, a phenomenon postulated to promote meal-related satiety. To explore whether abnormal CCK secretion during feeding may be related to pathophysiological mechanisms in disorders associated with appetite abnormalities, we report here studies of the plasma CCK response to a test meal in patients with bulimia nervosa, as well as seasonal (hyperphagic) and melancholic (anorexic) depression. Compared to controls, bulimic patients had impaired meal-related CCK secretion, correlated with an impaired sense of postprandial satiety. This defect resolved with tricyclic antidepressant-induced amelioration of bulimic behavior, suggesting that deficient CCK secretion may constitute a fundamental pathophysiologic derangement in this disorder. In contrast to patients with bulimia nervosa, hyperphagic patients with seasonal affective disorder failed to show abnormal meal-related CCK secretion. Preliminary evidence shows robust meal-related CCK secretion in melancholic depression with anorexia. We have also begun to explore the dynamics of CCK secretion into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) utilizing an indwelling lumbar catheter. From studies in humans, we note that this peptide is secreted into the CSF in large (ng/ml) quantities in an episodic fashion that may bear some relationship to food ingestion. Further study of this parameter in volunteers and patients is now underway.

Cholecystokinin↗

Impaired cholecystokinin secretion in bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa is a prevalent disorder of unknown cause, characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrollable eating. In the light of recent evidence that the gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin induces satiety and reduces food intake in laboratory animals and humans, we investigated the hypothesis that abnormalities in cholecystokinin secretion and satiety may occur in patients with bulimia and contribute to their disturbed eating patterns. Blood levels of cholecystokinin and subjective satiety were measured in 14 women with bulimia and 10 normal women before and after a mixed-liquid meal. The total integrated plasma cholecystokinin response to eating was significantly impaired in patients with bulimia (P less than 0.05) as was postprandial satiety. Fasting cholecystokinin levels were similar in both populations (approximately 0.8 pmol per liter). After eating, however, mean (+/- SEM) peak plasma cholecystokinin levels increased to 4.1 +/- 0.9 pmol per liter in normal controls but to only 2.1 +/- 0.2 pmol per liter in patients with bulimia nervosa (P less than 0.05). After an open trial of tricyclic antidepressants in a subgroup of five patients with bulimia, the postprandial cholecystokinin response to eating increased significantly, to 6.6 +/- 1.2 pmol per liter (P less than 0.05), and there was an increase in the satiety response. We conclude that patients with bulimia do not have normal satiety and have impaired secretion of cholecystokinin in response to a meal. Preliminary evidence suggests that both these abnormalities may be improved by treatment with tricyclic antidepressants.

Adolescent↗

Effects of cholecystokinin on pancreatic ornithine decarboxylase gene expression.

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) on pancreatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene expression were studied in the rat. Plasma CCK concentrations were raised to levels comparable to postprandial values either by intravenous infusion of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) or by intraduodenal perfusion of soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). ODC mRNA levels were quantified using a cloned cDNA probe. ODC mRNA increased to 166 +/- 34% (n = 4) of control after 1 h, peaked at 254 +/- 39% (n = 4) of control after 24 h, and remained significantly elevated for up to 48 h of SBTI infusion. Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 for 24 h increased ODC mRNA levels to the same extent observed with SBTI infusion. The CCK receptor antagonist L364,718 by itself had no effect on ODC mRNA levels but totally abolished the induction of ODC mRNA by both intravenous CCK infusion and intraduodenal infusion of SBTI. These data therefore indicate that CCK plasma concentrations comparable to postprandial values regulate pancreatic ODC at a pretranslational level and that SBTI exerts its effects on pancreatic ODC via an increase in plasma CCK.

Animals↗

Physiological role for cholecystokinin in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia in humans.

It is known that the ingestion of glucose alone causes a greater increase in plasma glucose levels than ingestion of the same amount of glucose given with other nutrients. Since physiological plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK) prolong gastric emptying, it is proposed that after a meal, CCK may modify plasma glucose levels by delaying glucose delivery to the duodenum. To evaluate the effect of CCK on oral glucose tolerance, plasma CCK, insulin, and glucose levels and gastric emptying rates were measured in eight normal males before and after the ingestion of 60 g glucose with the simultaneous infusion of either saline or one of two doses of CCK-8 (12 or 24 pmol/kg per h). Gastric emptying rates were measured by gamma camera scintigraphy of technetium 99m sulfur colloid and plasma CCK levels were measured by a sensitive and specific bioassay. Basal CCK levels averaged 1.0 +/- 0.1 pM (mean +/- SEM, n = 8) and increased to 7.1 +/- 1.1 pM after a mixed liquid meal. After glucose ingestion, but without CCK infusion, CCK levels did not change from basal, and the gastric emptying t1/2 was 68 +/- 3 min. Plasma glucose levels increased from basal levels of 91 +/- 3.9 mg/dl to peak levels of 162 +/- 11 mg/dl and insulin levels increased from 10.7 +/- 1.8 microU/ml to peak levels of 58 +/- 11 microU/ml. After glucose ingestion, with CCK infused at 24 pmol/kg per h, plasma CCK levels increased to 8 pM and the gastric emptying t1/2 increased to 148 +/- 16 min. In concert with this delay in gastric emptying, peak glucose levels rose to only 129 +/- 17 mg% and peak insulin levels rose to only 24.2 +/- 4.2 microU/ml. With CCK at 12 pmol/kg per h, similar but less dramatic changes were seen. To demonstrate that endogenous CCK could modify the plasma glucose and insulin responses to oral glucose, oral glucose was given with 50 g of lipid containing long-chain triglycerides. This lipid increased peak CCK levels to 3.7 +/- 0.9 pM. Concomitant with this rise in CCK was a delay in gastric emptying and a lowering of plasma glucose and insulin values. To confirm that CCK reduced hyperglycemia by its effect on gastric motility, 36 g glucose was perfused directly into the duodenum through a nasal-duodenal feeding tube in four subjects. With duodenal perfusion of glucose, there was no change in plasma CCK levels, but plasma glucose levels increased from basal levels of 93+/-5 to 148+/-6 mg/dl and insulin levels rose from 10.6+/-3.5 to 29.5+/-5.2 microU/ml. When CCK was infused at 24 pmol/kg per h, neither the plasma glucose nor insulin responses to the duodenal administration of glucose were modified. Thus we conclude that CCK, in physiological concentrations, delays gastric emptying, slows the delivery of glucose to the duodenum, and reduces postprandial hyperglycemia. These data indicate, therefore, that CCK has a significant role in regulating glucose homeostasis in human.

Administration, Oral↗

Dietary regulation of rat intestinal cholecystokinin gene expression.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gastrointestinal hormone produced by discrete endocrine cells in the upper small intestine and released after ingestion of a meal. The present study was designed to determine if enhanced CCK secretion is associated with increases in intestinal CCK mRNA levels. Rats, prepared with indwelling intraduodenal cannulae, were first fed an elemental diet that did not stimulate CCK release. Next, as a means of stimulating CCK secretion, soybean trypsin inhibitor was perfused for up to 24 h. Trypsin inhibitor administration increased plasma CCK levels from 0.9 +/- 0.1 to approximately 5 pmol/liter. RNA was prepared from the proximal small intestine at various times after trypsin inhibitor perfusion and mRNA levels analyzed by hybridization with a CCK cDNA probe. After 12 and 24 h of trypsin inhibitor treatment there were three- and fourfold increases, respectively, in CCK mRNA levels. In comparison, there was no change in beta-actin mRNA levels. To determine if regulation of CCK mRNA was at the level of CCK gene transcription, labeled transcripts from nuclear run-on incubations were hybridized to immobilized CCK cDNA. In trypsin inhibitor-treated rats, a two- to threefold increase in transcriptional activity was observed, whereas beta-actin gene transcription levels were unaltered. These studies indicate that stimulation of CCK secretion is associated with an increase in intestinal CCK mRNA content resulting from an increase in CCK gene transcription.

Animals↗

Jejunal bypass stimulation of pancreatic growth and cholecystokinin secretion in rats: importance of luminal nutrients.

The effect of jejunal bypass on pancreatic growth and plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) was investigated in rats. Rats underwent bypass of jejunum or sham operation. Rats with jejunal bypass were further divided into three groups; one group received a continuous infusion of a partially hydrolysed liquid diet (Vital) into the bypassed jejunum; a second group received the nutrient solution mixed with trypsin and infused into the bypassed jejunum; the third bypass group did not receive infusion of nutrient or trypsin into the jejunum. Jejunal bypass alone did not significantly stimulate pancreatic growth or DNA content at one or two weeks postoperative. Infusion of nutrient solution into the bypassed jejunum stimulated pancreatic growth and DNA content, with maximal increases of 185% and 181% for pancreatic weight and DNA content, respectively, at two weeks. This coincided with significant increases in postabsorptive plasma CCK concentrations. Infusion of pancreatic proteases into the bypassed jejunum partially reversed the effects of nutrient infusion. These results suggest that exclusion of bile-pancreatic juice or pancreatic proteases from the jejunum does not lead to maximal release of CCK unless the jejunum receives luminal nutrients. It is proposed that CCK release from rat jejunum occurs spontaneously in the absence of pancreatic proteases, and that luminal nutrients in bypassed jejunum increase plasma CCK and stimulate pancreatic growth by maintaining synthesis of CCK.

Animals↗