Synergy between amylin and cholecystokinin for inhibition of food intake in mice

Abstract BHAVSAR, S., J. WATKINS AND A. YOUNG. Synergy between amylin and cholecystokinin for inhibition of food intake in mice. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64 (4) 557–561, 1998.—Several gastrointestinal peptides which are secreted in response to nutrients have been reported to suppress food intake. Amylin is a peptide hormone co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic β-cells in response to nutrient stimuli. Cholesystokinin (CCK) is secreted from duodenal and jejunal mucosal cells in response to fat and protein. Amylin and CCK-8 have been reported to reduce food intake in rodents when given centrally as well as peripherally. Amylin injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) reduced food intake over the subsequent 30 min in overnight fasted mice by a maximum of 57 ± 6% with an ED 50 of 0.93 nmol/kg (3.63 μg/kg) ± 0.34 log units. On a molar basis, this potency was similar to that of CCK-8 (ED 50 0.85 nmol/kg (0.97 μg/kg) ± 0.28 log units; p = 0.93) which inhibited food intake by a maximum of 71 ± 7%. When amylin and CCK-8 were injected i.p. as an amylin:CCK-8 mixture, immediately before presentation of food in overnight fasted mice, food intake in the subsequent 30 min was reduced by a maximum of 91%, an amount that was greater than that producable by i.p. injection of amylin or CCK-8 alone. Isobolar analysis revealed a marked synergy between amylin and CCK-8 in reducing food intake, such that statistically ineffective doses of amylin and CCK, when combined, evoked near-maximal inhibition of food intake. Because the typical physiological event is for amylin and CCK both to be secreted in response to mixed meals, the synergy between them could indicate a shared role in physiological appetite control.