title: Bombesin acts to suppress feeding behavior and alter serum growth hormone in goldfish.
abstract: The acute effects of a single injection of bombesin (BBS) on feeding behavior and serum growth hormone (GH) levels in goldfish were examined. When injected intraperitoneally (IP), BBS (0.5-100 ng/g) caused a dose-dependent decrease in food intake within 30 and 45 min of administration; maximal suppression was achieved at 50 ng/g BBS and was accompanied by an elevation in serum GH levels. Associated with IP injection of BBS was a pronounced spitting out behavior in which food pellets were taken into the oral cavity but immediately expelled. When injected into goldfish deprived of food for 72 h, 50 ng/g BBS was still potent in suppressing feeding behavior and increasing serum GH. Additionally, IP injection of BBS (10 or 100 ng/g) into groups of fish caused a significant increase in circulating serum GH levels at 1.5 h postinjection. Finally, when injected into the third brain ventricle (ICV), 60 ng/g BBS also caused a suppression in food intake and a concomitant increase in serum GH. Groups of fish injected ICV with 5 or 50 ng/g BBS also exhibited a graded increase in serum GH levels at 45 min postinjection. Overall, these data are the first to demonstrate in any lower vertebrate that a neuropeptide acts to suppress food intake and cause concomitant alterations in circulating serum GH levels, following either peripheral or central administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Himick
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006054:Goldfish; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone; D001839:Bombesin