title: Effect of omeprazole treatment on feed intake and blood gastrin and pepsinogen levels in the calf.
abstract: Previous work has shown blood gastrin levels to be elevated and appetite depressed in ostertagia-infected calves. A possible relationship between raised blood gastrin values and feed intake was investigated in worm-free animals using the human gastric acid secretion inhibitor, omeprazole. An initial dose-titration experiment established that administration of the drug by intravenous injection at 1.95 mg kg-1 (four times the recommended human dose rate) resulted in a marked (5.2-fold) increase in blood gastrin levels in the calf. Daily administration of omeprazole by intravenous injection at 2 mg kg-1 for four days in a subsequent experiment resulted in a significant depression in feed intake (up to 40.4 per cent) which was accompanied by a significant rise in blood gastrin levels (peak 940 pg ml-1; 6.5-fold increase over control values). It is suggested that such a rise in hormone levels would reduce reticuloruminal and abomasal motility, slow down the passage of ingesta and, in turn, lead to a reduction in appetite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Royal Veterinary College, London.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerrelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shivalkar
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D010435:Pepsinogens; D009853:Omeprazole