The role of gastric stasis in tumor-induced anorexia in rats.
BACKGROUND
The current study was undertaken to determine if changes in gastric emptying contribute to tumor-induced anorexia.


METHODS
Rats were implanted with the Walker 256 carcinoma, and food intake was measured daily. On days 0, 8, and 15, the rats were fasted overnight, gavage fed a bolus of liquid food, and residual gastric contents were measured 3 hours later.


RESULTS
Tumor growth was associated with a progressive decline in voluntary food intake. When the rats were gavage fed 2.5 or 7 ml of liquid food, the percent of gastric contents cleared in 3 hours was unchanged with tumor growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in gastric emptying did not contribute to decreased food intake with growth of the Walker 256 in rats.
McCarthy
D O
DO
School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53792.
Daun
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004435:Eating; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains