Effects of vagal pacing on food intake and body mass in pigs.
In obesity patients inexpensive, non-invasive, low risk treatment remains a holy grail. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of long term and low frequency vagal pacing on feeding behavior in pigs.


METHODS
Two groups of animals were investigated, first control with sham operation and second group with microchip (MC) on both vagal nerves placed laparoscopically. In both groups EGG was performed before and after MC implantation. Parameters of stimulation were stable (amplitude 170 mV, frequency 1 Hz, impulse duration 170 ms).


RESULTS
MC group demonstrated continuous decrease in body weight gain during 8 weeks of experiment at average of 3.73 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.83 +/- 1.1 (p < 0.05). Food intake also decreased in MC group and was 16.38 +/- 1.3 vs. control 17.5 +/- 1.7 kg/w (ns). EGG recording showed decreased percent normogastria in MC group 26.66 +/- 10 vs. 76.2 +/- 16 (p < 0.05) mostly at cost of tachygastria 62.3 +/- 15 vs. 35.4 +/- 16% of the recording time.


CONCLUSIONS
MC vagal pacing mostly decreased body weight being without significant influence on food intake causing gastric dysrhythmia.
Matyja
Andrzej
A
I Katedra Chriurgii, Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
Thor
Piotr J
PJ
Sobocki
Jacek
J
Laskiewicz
Janusz
J
Kekus
Jerzy
J
Tuz
Ryszard
R
Koczanowski
Józef
J
Zaraska
Wiesław
W
D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004435:Eating; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013552:Swine; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*