Abstract

Extensive evidence supports the involvement cholecystokinin (CCK) in the peripheral and central nervous system control of food intake. A currently prevailing hypothesis suggests that CCK serves as the neurotransmitter in a polysynaptic ascending projection from the peripheral branches of the vague nerve to the hypothalamus and that these projections mediate short-term satiety. The proposed research is aimed at (1) localizing CCK-containing projections from vagal afferents to two hypothalamic nuclei and (2) determining the function of these projections in short-term satiety.
These aims will accomplished through both anatomical and behavioral methods of inquiry. A combination of pathway tracing techniques and immunohistochemistry will be utilized to trace CCK-containing projections from vagal afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitarius to either the ventromedial or the paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, including a possible relay in the parabrachial nucleus. The involvement of these projections in the control of food intake will be determined by assessing the effect on short-term food intake of direct injections of CCK receptor agonists and antagonists to the CCK terminal field areas and by determining the effect on meal patterning of physically disrupting a CCK projection. The information provided by these studies will be relevant to the treatment of eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH047189-03
Application #
2247467
Study Section
Neurosciences Research Review Committee (BPN)
Project Start
1990-09-30
Project End
1994-08-31
Budget Start
1992-09-30
Budget End
1994-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455