AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 265, Issue 1 211-R215, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society
Chronic alcohol consumption increases sensitivity to the anorexic effect of cholecystokinin
S. C. Weatherford, D. P. Figlewicz, C. R. Park and S. C. Woods
Department of Psychology and Physiology/Psychology Joint Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
In this study we examined the ability of intraperitoneal cholecystokinin
COOH-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8; 0.2, 0.6, and 2.0 micrograms/kg) to
suppress food intake in rats that had consumed a control diet, 6-8
g.kg-1.day-1 of ethanol (EtOH) in sucrose, or sucrose alone for 6 mo. Both
the EtOH- and sucrose-fed rats developed significant dietary obesity. After
3 mo, the EtOH group was significantly more sensitive to CCK-8 than the
sucrose and control groups, while the responses of the sucrose and control
groups were comparable. In contrast, after 6 mo the EtOH and sucrose
groups' response to CCK-8 was no longer significantly different. After 6 mo
there were no significant differences in basal or postprandial plasma CCK-8
levels. The sucrose group had significantly higher basal insulin levels
than the control and EtOH groups, and postprandial insulin levels, relative
to basal, were significantly elevated in the EtOH group. Basal glucose
levels did not differ among groups. Postprandial glucose levels (relative
to baseline) were significantly lower in the EtOH group compared with the
other groups and in fact never rose above baseline levels. These results
are consistent with the hypothesis that EtOH, when taken on a chronic
basis, increases the sensitivity to CCK-8.
