Intake of sweet-tasting solutions reduced by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy in rats

Date: Jul-23-2013A new study reports that subdiaphragmatic vagotomy reduces intake of sweet-tasting solutions in rats, and eliminates the hedonic perception produced by sucrose and saccharin in rats.

Previous studies have shown that taste information and digestion information in animals during diet intake interact with each other in the central nervous system. So, how does subdiaphragmatic vagotomy influence the intake of sweet-tasting solution in rats?

According to a study published in Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 17, 2013), rats in the sham-surgery group drank more saccharin solution than sucrose solution or distilled water. Moreover, the intake of distilled water was similar between vagotomized rats and sham-surgery group rats, but significantly less sucrose and saccharin were consumed by vagotomized rats compared with rats in the sham-surgery group.

These findings indicate that subdiaphragmatic vagotomy reduces intake of sweet-tasting solution in rats, and eliminates the difference in hedonic perception induced by sweet-tasting solutions compared with distilled water. This may be due to functional loss of the vagus nerve that enhances negative feedback signals from the gastrointestinal tract.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.