Age-dependent effects of CCK and devazepide in male and female rats

Abstract Peripheral administration of the brain/gut peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) has been demonstrated to inhibit food intake in a variety of species, and administration of the specific type A CCK receptor antagonist devazepide increases food intake in a variety of experimental paradigms. The potency of CCK to inhibit intake depends upon a variety of factors, but CCK is generally less potent under conditions of elevated food intake. At different developmental stages, rats' intake requirements differ as growth rates change. To determine whether CCK plays a variable role in the control of intake in rats of different ages, we examined the feeding-inhibitory effect of various doses of CCK and the feeding enhancing potential of various doses of devazepide on glucose consumption (0.5 kcal/ml) in male and female rats at 45–70 and 110–130 days of age. CCK was more potent in older male and female rats than in younger rats, and inhibited intake in a dose-related fashion. In younger rats, the efficacy of CCK was attenuated and the inhibition was not dose related. Administration of devazepide had no effect on intake in younger rats of either sex, but significantly increased glucose consumption in the older rats. These data suggest that during a period of rapid growth and high levels of food intake relative to body weight, adolescent rats are relatively insensitive to exogenous CCK and endogenous CCK does not appear to play a significant role in controlling their intake.