The effects of liver denervation on food and water intake in the rat. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In Experiment 1, liver denervations or sham operations were performed on rats in two separate trials. Food and water intakes and body weights of denervated rats did not deviate significantly from their sham operated controls. Male and female rats responded similarly. In Experiment 2, in addition to daily food and water intakes, initial daily meal size was investigated in two groups of liver denervated and sham operated rats. Initial daily meal size was determined during a one hour test at the start of the dark period of the light:dark cycle. In one group of rats a chow diet was used for testing, while a liquid diet was utilized in the second group. According to the "liver glucoreceptor preabsorptive satiety and general food intake control hypothesis" the denervated rats should have experienced a depression of daily food intake and preabsorptive satiety. No differences were found in either preabsorptive satiety or daily food and water intakes and body weights when denervated rats were compared to sham operated control animals. The results question whether liver glucoreceptors have any detectable influence on the control of feeding behavior. Certainly the data does not support the role of liver glucoreceptors as a major controller of feeding behavior in the rat. 1981.

published proceedings

  • Physiol Behav

author list (cited authors)

  • Bellinger, L. L., & Williams, F. E.

citation count

  • 36

complete list of authors

  • Bellinger, LL||Williams, FE

publication date

  • January 1981