AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 258, Issue 4 591-G595, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society
Effect of neurotensin on regional cerebral glucose utilization in cold water-restrained rats
L. P. Xing, J. C. King, R. M. Bryan and G. L. Kauffman Jr
Department of Surgery, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
Neurotensin (NT), given intracerebroventricularly (icv), attenuates cold
water restraint (CWR)-induced gastric mucosal injury; however, it is not
clear which brain nuclear group or groups are involved. These studies
tested the hypothesis that neuronal function, as measured by regional
cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRGlc), is altered by icv NT with or
without CWR. CWR resulted in a reduced global glucose utilization of 72 and
65% in control and NT-treated rats, respectively. NT, given icv, protected
against ulcer formation induced by CWR. In those rats given NT icv, rCMRGlc
was elevated significantly in amygdala, nucleus accumbens, substantia
nigra, tuberculum olfactrium, hypothalamus, and cerebellum compared with
CWR rats without NT pretreatment. This rCMRGlc increase was observed in
both unstressed and stressed rats given NT icv in the nucleus accumbens and
amygdala. These observations suggest that the nucleus accumbens and
amygdala, both components of the mesolimbic dopamine system, are involved
in the central action of NT on the gastric mucosa.
