Apoptosis in rat jejunal mucosa is regulated partly through the central nervous system, which controls feeding behavior.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether central nervous system-related feeding behavior regulates mucosal apoptosis in rat small intestines.


METHODS
The test solutions used in this study were an H(1) receptor antagonist (chlorpheniramine maleate), 2-deoxy-D-glucose, leptin, and 1-deoxy-D-glucosamine (2-amino-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-glucitol). Test solutions were injected into the third cerebroventricles of rats. Feeding behavior and jejunal apoptosis were evaluated both with and without truncal vagotomy. Intestinal apoptosis was evaluated by percentage fragmented DNA, electrophoresis, and TUNEL staining.


RESULTS
Chlorpheniramine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose elicited feeding, whereas leptin and 1-deoxy-D-glucosamine suppressed feeding. The test solutions, which elicited feeding (0.24 and 24 micromol/rat of chlorpheniramine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, respectively), suppressed mucosal apoptosis in the rat jejunum 1 h after cerebroventricular infusion. In contrast, the test solutions, which suppressed feeding (8 and 24 micromol/rat of leptin and 1-deoxy-D-glucosamine, respectively), induced jejunal mucosal apoptosis 3 h after infusion. The effects of the test solutions on feeding behavior and changes in apoptosis were not affected by truncal vagotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The central nervous system, which regulates feeding behavior, might control intestinal function through the regulation of intestinal apoptosis.
Lin
Taisan
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
Sakata
Hiroyuki
H
Ootani
Akifumi
A
Fujise
Takehiro
T
Tsunada
Seiji
S
Amemori
Sadahiro
S
Danjo
Akiko
A
Yokoyama
Fumie
F
Sakata
Yasuhisa
Y
Iwakiri
Ryuichi
R
Toda
Shuji
S
Fujimoto
Kazuma
K
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014628:Vagotomy
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D020738:Leptin; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D003847:Deoxyglucose