AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 264, Issue 2 350-R354, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society
Intravenous infusion of bombesin reduces food intake in humans
N. E. Muurahainen, H. R. Kissileff and F. X. Pi-Sunyer
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
Infusion of bombesin into healthy young men at two dosages (1.33 and 4.0
ng.kg-1.min-1) resulted in a significant 135-g reduction in intake of a
yogurt and fruit blend, compared with saline infusions, at the higher dose,
but only a 20-g (nonsignificant) reduction at the lower dose. There were no
overt side effects, although half of the subjects reported a slightly
elevated (mean elevation = 0.5 on a 1-5 category scale) sick sensation when
receiving bombesin at the higher dose, but not when receiving saline. At
the higher dose, the mean palatability of the test meal was reduced by 0.5
units on a nine-point scale of liking. This study demonstrates for the
first time in humans that a slow intravenous infusion of bombesin can
decrease spontaneous food intake when infused at the rate of 4
ng.kg-1.min-1 beginning at the onset of a meal. These results confirm that
the short-term satiety effect of peripherally administered bombesin
previously reported in animals can be obtained in humans.
