A Bibliometric Analysis of the Research on Social Attitudes Towards LGBT Community (2002-2022)

A bibliometric analysis was conducted to map out trends in publications on attitudes toward the LGBT community based on the 470 documents retrieved from the SCOPUS database for 2002-2022. The results revealed that the United States is the leading country contributing to the publications on attitudes toward the LGBT community and has a strong impact in the field (64.68%). The authorship analysis revealed that Flores, Woodford, and Worthen from the United States are the leading researchers in this field. Analysis of publication sources showed that the Journal of Homosexuality is the top publisher of findings on the LGBT community whereas the Journal of Interpersonal Violence and Sexuality and Culture have gained more traction among researchers in recent years. The analysis of the co-occurrence of author's keywords indicated that transgender is the gender group that is the most researched compared to other sexual identities. Negative attitudes such as homophobia, discrimination and being heterosexist toward one's sexuality or same-sex marriage are the current research foci. Religion and culture are seen as important predictors of attitudes about homosexuality and same-sex marriage policy. The study addresses the gaps in the literature by recommending future researchers to investigate attitudes toward other gender identities as a result of the revolution in sexual identities.

Spontaneous atopic dermatitis due to immune dysregulation in mice lacking Adamts2 and 14

Since its first description, ADAMTS14 has been considered as an aminoprocollagen peptidase based on its high similarity with ADAMTS3 and ADAMTS2. As its importance for procollagen processing was never experimentally demonstrated in vivo, we generated Adamts14-deficient mice. They are healthy, fertile and display normal aminoprocollagen processing. They were further crossed with Adamts2-deficient mice to evaluate potential functional redundancies between these two highly related enzymes. Initial characterizations made on young Adamts2-Adamts14-deficient animals showed the same phenotype as that of Adamts2-deficient mice, with no further reduction of procollagen processing and no significant aggravation of the structural alterations of collagen fibrils. However, when evaluated at older age, Adamts2-Adamts14-deficient mice surprisingly displayed epidermal lesions, appearing in 2 month-old males and later in some females, and then worsening rapidly. Immunohistological evaluations of skin sections around the lesions revealed thickening of the epidermis, hypercellularity in the dermis and extensive infiltration by immune cells. Additional investigations, performed on young mice before the formation of the initial lesions, revealed that the primary cause of the phenotype was not related to alterations of the epidermal barrier but was rather the result of an abnormal activation and differentiation of T lymphocytes towards a Th1 profile. However, the primary molecular defect probably does not reside in the immune system itself since irradiated Adamts2-Adamts14-deficient mice grafted with WT immune cells still developed lesions. While originally created to better characterize the common and specific functions of ADAMTS2 and ADAMTS14 in extracellular matrix and connective tissues homeostasis, the Adamts2-Adamts14-deficient mice revealed an unexpected but significant role of ADAMTS in the regulation of immune system, possibly through a cross-talk involving mesenchymal cells and the TGFβ pathways.

Reinforced poly(hydroxyurethane) thermosets as high performance adhesives for aluminum substrates

High performance adhesives for bare aluminum are prepared by reinforcing poly(hydroxyurethane) (PHU) thermosets with (functional) nanofillers and poly(dimethylsiloxane).

Organocatalyzed coupling of carbon dioxide with epoxides for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates: catalyst design and mechanistic studies

The coupling of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with epoxides with the formation of cyclic carbonates is a highly attractive 100% atom economic reaction. It represents a greener and safer alternative to the conventional synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and toxic phosgene.

A comprehensive density functional theory study of the key role of fluorination and dual hydrogen bonding in the activation of the epoxide/CO2 coupling by fluorinated alcohols

DFT calculations allow understanding the key role of fluorination and dual hydrogen bonding responsible for the remarkable catalytic activity of the fluorinated alcohol/ammonium bromide bicomponent organocatalysts for the epoxide/CO₂ coupling.

Organocatalytic synthesis of bio-based cyclic carbonates from CO2 and vegetable oils

Optimal conditions deduced from in situ FTIR kinetic studies provide quantitative conversion of epoxidized linseed oil into carbonated linseed oil using a bi-component organocatalyst.

Organocatalytic promoted coupling of carbon dioxide with epoxides: a rational investigation of the cocatalytic activity of various hydrogen bond donors

A rational investigation of the cocatalytic activity of a series of commercially available hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO₂ and epoxides under mild conditions.

Balicatib, a cathepsin K inhibitor, stimulates periosteal bone formation in monkeys

Balicatib, an inhibitor of the osteoclastic enzyme cathepsin K, was tested in ovariectomized monkeys, a model for osteoporosis. As expected, ovariectomy-induced bone mass changes were partially prevented by balicatib treatment. Bone turnover was significantly decreased at most sites, but unlike most bone resorption inhibitors, periosteal bone formation rates were increased.

INTRODUCTION

Selective inhibitors of the osteoclastic enzyme cathepsin K have potential in osteoporosis treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy of balicatib (AAE581), a novel inhibitor of human cathepsin K, on bone mass and dynamic histomorphometric endpoints in ovariectomized monkeys.

METHODS

Eighty adult female Macaca fascicularis underwent bilateral ovariectomies and were dosed twice daily by oral gavage with balicatib at 0, 3, 10, and 50 mg/kg for 18 months (groups O, L, M, H, respectively). Approximately 1 month after treatment initiation, the 50 mg/kg dose was decreased to 30 mg/kg. Twenty animals underwent sham-ovariectomies (group S). Bone mass was measured at 3-6 month intervals. At 18 months, vertebra and femur were collected for histomorphometry.

RESULTS

In both spine and femur, group O animals lost BMD and all other groups gained BMD between 0 and 18 months. In balicatib-treated animals, BMD change in the spine was intermediate between group S and O, with groups L and M significantly different from group O. In femur, all three doses of balicatib significantly increased BMD gain relative to group O and group mean values were also higher than group S. Most histomorphometric indices of bone turnover in vertebra and femoral neck were significantly lower than group O with balicatib treatment, except that periosteal bone formation rates (Ps.BFR) were significantly higher. Ps.BFR in mid-femur was also significantly increased by treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Balicatib partially prevented ovariectomy-induced changes in bone mass, inhibited bone turnover at most sites, and had an unexpected stimulatory effect on periosteal bone formation.

Balicatib, a cathepsin K inhibitor, stimulates periosteal bone formation in monkeys

Balicatib, an inhibitor of the osteoclastic enzyme cathepsin K, was tested in ovariectomized monkeys, a model for osteoporosis. As expected, ovariectomy-induced bone mass changes were partially prevented by balicatib treatment. Bone turnover was significantly decreased at most sites, but unlike most bone resorption inhibitors, periosteal bone formation rates were increased.

INTRODUCTION

Selective inhibitors of the osteoclastic enzyme cathepsin K have potential in osteoporosis treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy of balicatib (AAE581), a novel inhibitor of human cathepsin K, on bone mass and dynamic histomorphometric endpoints in ovariectomized monkeys.

METHODS

Eighty adult female Macaca fascicularis underwent bilateral ovariectomies and were dosed twice daily by oral gavage with balicatib at 0, 3, 10, and 50 mg/kg for 18 months (groups O, L, M, H, respectively). Approximately 1 month after treatment initiation, the 50 mg/kg dose was decreased to 30 mg/kg. Twenty animals underwent sham-ovariectomies (group S). Bone mass was measured at 3-6 month intervals. At 18 months, vertebra and femur were collected for histomorphometry.

RESULTS

In both spine and femur, group O animals lost bone mineral density (BMD), and all other groups gained BMD between 0 and 18 months. In balicatib-treated animals, BMD change in the spine was intermediate between group S and O, with groups L and M significantly different from group O. In femur, all three doses of balicatib significantly increased BMD gain relative to group O, and group mean values were also higher than group S. Most histomorphometric indices of bone turnover in vertebra and femoral neck were significantly lower than group O with balicatib treatment, except that periosteal bone formation rates (Ps.BFR) were significantly higher. Ps.BFR in mid-femur was also significantly increased by treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Balicatib partially prevented ovariectomy-induced changes in bone mass, inhibited bone turnover at most sites, and had an unexpected stimulatory effect on periosteal bone formation.

Strontium ranelate improves bone strength in ovariectomized rat by positively influencing bone resistance determinants

SUMMARY

Treatment of adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats with strontium ranelate prevented vertebral biomechanics degradation as a result of the prevention of bone loss and micro-architecture deterioration associated to an effect on intrinsic bone material quality. Strontium ranelate influenced the determinants of bone strength by prevention of ovariectomy-induced changes which contribute to explain strontium ranelate antifracture efficacy.

INTRODUCTION

Strontium ranelate effects on the determinants of bone strength in OVX rats were evaluated.

METHODS

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were OVX, then treated daily for 52 weeks with 125, 250, or 625 mg strontium ranelate/kg. Bone strength, mass, micro-architecture, turnover, and intrinsic quality were assessed.

RESULTS

Strontium ranelate prevented ovariectomy-induced deterioration in mechanical properties with energy necessary for fracture completely maintained vs. SHAM at 625 mg/kg/day, which corresponds to the clinical dose. This was related to a dose-dependent effect on bone volume, higher trabeculae number, and lower trabecular separation in strontium ranelate vs. OVX. Load and energy required to induce lamella deformation were higher with strontium ranelate than in OVX and in SHAM, indicating that the bone formed with strontium ranelate is able to withstand greater damage before fracture. Bone formation was maintained high or even increased in strontium ranelate as shown by mineralizing surfaces and alkaline phosphatase while strontium ranelate led to reductions in deoxypyridinoline.

CONCLUSION

Strontium ranelate administered at 625 mg/kg/day for 52 weeks prevented OVX-induced biomechanical properties deterioration by influencing the determinants of bone strength: it prevented bone loss and micro-architecture degradation in association with an effect on intrinsic bone quality. These beneficial effects on bone contribute to explain strontium ranelate antifracture efficacy.

Mechanical strain, induced noninvasively in the high-frequency domain, is anabolic to cancellous bone, but not cortical bone

Departing from the premise that it is the large-amplitude signals inherent to intense functional activity that define bone morphology, we propose that it is the far lower magnitude, high-frequency mechanical signals that continually barrage the skeleton during longer term activities such as standing, which regulate skeletal architecture. To examine this hypothesis, we proposed that brief exposure to slight elevations in these endogenous mechanical signals would suffice to increase bone mass in those bones subject to the stimulus. This was tested by exposing the hind limbs of adult female sheep (n = 9) to 20 min/day of low-level (0.3g), high-frequency (30 Hz) mechanical signals, sufficient to induce a peak of approximately 5 microstrain (micro epsilon) in the tibia. Following euthanasia, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to segregate the cortical shell from the trabecular envelope of the proximal femur, revealing a 34.2% increase in bone density in the experimental animals as compared with controls (p = 0.01). Histomorphometric examination of the femur supported these density measurements, with bone volume per total volume increasing by 32% (p = 0.04). This density increase was achieved by two separate strategies: trabecular spacing decreased by 36.1% (p = 0.02), whereas trabecular number increased by 45.6% (p = 0.01), indicating the formation of cancellous bone de novo. There were no significant differences in the radii of animals subject to the stimulus, indicating that the adaptive response was local rather than systemic. The anabolic potential of the signal was evident only in trabecular bone, and there were no differences, as measured by any assay, in the cortical bone. These data suggest that subtle mechanical signals generated during predominant activities such as posture may be potent determinants of skeletal morphology. Given that these strain levels are three orders of magnitude below strains that can damage bone tissue, we believe that a noninvasive stimulus based on this sensitivity has potential for treating skeletal complications such as osteoporosis.

Electrochemical synthesis of conjugated polymer wires and nanotubules

Two electrochemical methods designed for the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) wires and nanotubules are the topic of this paper. The concept that allows the morphology of PPy to be controlled is discussed for each method, and the performances of the two complementary techniques are compared in terms of dimension, shape and conductivity of PPy.

Self-analysis: structure, extension, and computerization

In this article, a structure for self-analysis is described and the expanded applicability of self-analysis implied by the suggested structure is examined. Also, the stage of computer psychotherapy programs is reviewed, and an overview of a plan for merging self-analysis and computer psychotherapy is presented.

Failure to detect increases in brain dopamine metabolism in rats sham feeding sucrose and corn oil

In a recent study we found that when rats sham fed 6% sucrose, 10% sucrose, and 100% corn oil, the rank order of inhibitory potency for D-1 and D-2 receptor antagonists was 6% sucrose greater than 10% sucrose greater than 100% corn oil. In a complementary study, sham-feeding rats preferred 100% corn oil greater than 10% sucrose greater than 6% sucrose as measured by two-bottle preference tests. The preferences are evidence for the rank order of reward value of these solutions. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the relative antagonist potencies were due to differential release of DA, dependent on the reward value of the sham-fed solution. Dopamine metabolism, estimated by the ratio of dihydroxphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to DA, was measured in forebrain-DA terminal fields during sham feeding of 100% corn oil, 6% sucrose, and 10% sucrose. The results did not support our hypothesis: no increase in DA metabolism was observed after the sham feeding of any solution.

Sham feeding of sucrose increases the ratio of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid to dopamine in the hypothalamus

Recent pharmacological experiments suggested that central dopaminergic (DA) mechanisms are necessary for the normal eating response to sweet stimuli. To test this hypothesis, we measured the ratio of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to dopamine (DA) in forebrain DA terminal fields during the sham feeding of sucrose (1-40%) by rats after 17 hr of food deprivation. After 9 min of sham feeding 10% or 40% sucrose, DOPAC/DA increased in the hypothalamus, but not in other forebrain regions including the n. accumbens, amygdala, and pyriform cortex. This increase in hypothalamic DOPAC/DA did not occur after 9 min of sham feeding 1%, 1.25%, or 2.5% sucrose. The increased DA metabolism required that sham feeding of 10% or 40% sucrose be maintained for longer than 3 min, because no increase of DOPAC/DA was observed in any forebrain region after 3 min of sham feeding. These results are strong evidence that hypothalamic DA mechanisms are activated by the sham feeding of sucrose solutions and they support the hypothesis that central DA mechanisms are necessary for the normal eating response to sweet stimuli.

Specific postoperative syndromes after total and selective vagotomies in the rat

Male Sprague-Dawley rats which survived bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (with hepatic branch intact) exhibited an acute syndrome of hypophagia, hypodipsia and severe loss of body weight when maintained on solid food and water for 14 days after vagotomy. This postvagotomy syndrome was attenuated when rats were maintained on a liquid diet (116EC) chosen to minimize postvagotomy dysphagia and abnormal gastric retention of food; vagotomized rats were hypophagic and lost body weight, but the degree of weight loss was not so severe as for vagotomized rats eating solid food. When rats with total subdiaphragramatic vagotomy were maintained on palatable sweet milk food, the acute postvagotomy syndrome was abolished; these vagotomized rats ate and drank as much as rats with sham vagotomy and they did not lose weight. When rats that underwent selective hepatic, gastric or coeliac vagotomy were maintained on the sweet milk diet, three different postoperative syndromes occurred: after selective hepatic vagotomy, rats were hyperphagic, hyperdipsic and gained body weight at a greater than normal rate; after selective gastric vagotomy, rats lost weight despite relatively normal food and water intakes; and after selective coeliac vagotomy, there was no change in food or water intakes or body weight. These results demonstrate that a sweet milk diet abolishes the anorexia, hypodipsia and weight loss that usually occur in vagotomized rats maintained on pellets and water. Use of this sweet milk diet revealed different acute syndromes after bilateral and selective vagotomies. The differences among the syndromes suggest that hepatic, gastric and coeliac vagal branches serve different functions in the control of food and water intake and body weight.

Afferent axons in abdominal vagus mediate satiety effect of cholecystokinin in rats

Selective section of afferent vagal axons that reach below the diaphragm blocks the satiating effect of peripherally administered cholecystokinin in the rat. Section of the analogous efferent axons has no effect. After the behavioral tests, the selective axonal sections were confirmed with horseradish peroxidase histochemistry.

Ceruletide acts in the abdomen, not in the brain, to produce satiety

Ceruletide (caerulein), a decapeptide extracted from the skin of the frog, Hyla caerulea, is very similar in structure to the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8). Although ceruletide and CCK-8 act through similar or identical receptors to produce the same visceral effects, previous studies in the rat suggested that peripherally administered ceruletide acted directly on the ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) area to decrease food intake, but peripherally administered CCK-8 acted at a vagally innervated abdominal site to decrease food intake. Since it is unprecedented for these two peptides to produce the same effect by acting at different sites, we investigated the site of action of ceruletide's satiety effect in the rat and compared it to the site of action of CCK-8. The major results were: (1) intraperitoneal administration of ceruletide and CCK-8 inhibited food intake, but intraventricular administration did not; (2) the satiety effect of ceruletide and CCK-8 was not changed by bilateral lesions of the VMH; and (3) the satiety effect of ceruletide and CCK-8 was abolished or markedly reduced by bilateral abdominal vagotomy. We conclude that ceruletide acts at the same vagally innervated abdominal site to produce satiety as CCK-8 does and that neither peptide acts directly on the VMH area.

Development of the drinking deficit to hypertonic saline in rats after abdominal vagotomy

After abdominal vagotomy, rats drink significantly less water in response to hypertonic saline. The drinking deficit could be due to the disconnection of vagal afferent fibers from a peripheral receptor stimulated by hypertonic saline or the loss of a more complex, tonic, fascilitatory function. The loss of the phasic afferent fiber function should appear immediately after vagotomy, but the loss of the tonic function might take more time to develop. We attempted to distinguish between these two possibilities by preparing 5 different groups of vagotomized rats that were each tested with 1 M NaCl (1% BW) at one of five postoperative days--2, 4, 7, 14 or 21 days. The drinking response was significantly decreased from preoperative intake in the groups tested on postoperative days 7, 14, and 21, but not in the groups tested on postoperative days 2 and 4. Since the drinking deficit is not present 2 and 4 days after vagotomy, the effect of vagotomy is not the result of lesioning afferent fibers that mediate a peripheral phasic stimulation elicited by hypertonic saline. The postoperative delay of at least 7 days for the deficit to appear suggests that the effect of vagotomy is the loss of some more complex neurological function that is necessary for a normal drinking response. The nature of this lost function is unknown.

Effects of total and selective abdominal vagotomies on water intake in rats

To determine if the decreased water intake of abdominal vagotomized rats in the presence and absence of food could be localized to a specific branch of the abdominal vagus, we measured the drinking response of rats that had undergone gastric vagotomy, hepatic vagotomy, coeliac vagotomy or a combined coeliac-hepatic vagotomy. The major results were: (1) gastric vagotomized rats drank less than rats that had had sham operations in the previous 24 h with and without food present; (2) hepatic vagotomized rats drank as much as sham operation rats in the presence or absence of food, but drank more than sham operation rats after 17 h water deprivation; (3) coeliac vagotomized rats drank normally in all tests; (4) combined coeliac and hepatic vagotomized rats drank normally except in a 2 h liquid food-related drinking test in which they drank more than sham operation rats; (5) no selective or total, abdominal vagotomized rat drank less than sham operation rats in response to 17 h water deprivation. Thus, gastric vagotomy was the selective vagotomy that most closely mimicked the effects of total abdominal vagotomy on drinking. In demonstrating that increases, decreases, or normal water intake depended on the specific vagal branch(es) disconnected and the specific dipsogenic test, these results refute the opinion that decreased drinking after abdominal vagotomy is simply the result of non-specific effects of vagal surgery. Finally, the normal water intake after water deprivation in total, gastric, and coeliac vagotomized rats in these experiments challenges the current theory that drinking after water deprivation is primarily due to osmotic thirst because previous experiments have shown that total, gastric, and coeliac vagotomized rats drink less than normal to the osmotic challenge produced by acute administration of hypertonic saline.

Gastric or coeliac vagotomy decreases drinking after peripheral angiotensin II

After bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, rats drank later and less in response to peripherally administered angiotensin II [13]. We attempted to localize this deficit neurologically by performing selective gastric, hepatic or coeliac vagotomies. The drinking responses of such selectively lesioned rats to 0.1 and 1.0 mg X kg-1 angiotensin II (SC) were compared to those of total bilateral vagotomized rats and sham vagotomized rats. Gastric or coeliac vagotomy produced drinking deficits that were similar to those produced by total abdominal vagotomy, but hepatic vagotomy did not. These results demonstrate the importance of abdominal vagal mechanisms in the drinking response to circulating angiotensin II.

Long-term venous access in rhesus monkeys

Long-term, intermittent, intravenous infusion of substances, such as amphotericin B, with a high potential for causing peripheral vein thrombophlebitis was feasible by means of a subcutaneously implanted silastic reservoir catheter device, which gave access to the central venous compartment. The implanted reservoirs withstood at least 100 percutaneous entries with a 27-gauge needle; injections were carried out by using an infusion pump. With precautions taken to prevent infection, clotting, or the formation of precipitates in the catheter, the device permitted easy intravenous injection and was well tolerated.

Gastric vagotomy inhibits drinking after hypertonic saline

Rats with bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy drank later and less in response to cellular dehydration produced by hypertonic saline. In an attempt to localize this deficit neurologically, we performed selective gastric, hepatic or coeliac vagotomies. The drinking responses of such selectively lesioned rats were compared with total bilateral vagotomized rats and sham operated rats after 0.15 M and 1 M NaCl (1% BW). Gastric vagotomy reproduced the drinking deficits that occurred after total vagotomy, but hepatic and coeliac vagotomies did not. These results demonstrate that disconnection of the gastric vagal fibers is the necessary and sufficient lesion of the abdominal vagal system for decreasing the drinking response to hypertonic saline.

Chronic hypodipsia to intraperitoneal and subcutaneous hypertonic saline after vagotomy

Recent studies suggest that the decreased drinking response to hypertonic saline produced by bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VGX) is a function of the route of saline administration and the length of postoperative recovery. We determined the effects of VGX on drinking during the two hours after intraperitoneal and subcutaneous injections of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% body weight doses of 1 M NaCl 30 weeks after surgery. Regardless of the route of injection of saline, VGX rats took longer to initiate drinking and drank less water after the two highest doses than controls. Although VGX rats drank less than controls after both routes of injection, the decrease in water intake was greater after intraperitoneal administration. We conclude that, since both deficits were obtained regardless of the route of saline injection 30 weeks after surgery, route of administration and length of postoperative recovery are not important factors for demonstrating impairments in the drinking elicited by hypertonic saline after total abdominal vagotomy under our experimental conditions.

Viral hepatitis (adenovirus) in a California sea lion

A juvenile California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) died 28 days after admission to the California Marine Mammal Center. Necropsy revealed hemorrhagic fluid in the stomach and hepatomegaly. Histologically, there was evidence of multifocal necrotizing hepatitis and acute suppurative bronchopneumonia. Amphophilic intranuclear inclusions were found, and electron microscopy revealed virions morphologically classifiable as adenovirus.

Abdominal vagotomy blocks the satiety effect of cholecystokinin in the rat

The site where peripherally administered cholecystokinin-8 elicits satiety was investigated by injecting rats with cholecystokinin-8 (1 to 8 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, intraperitoneally) after they had received bilateral lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus or after they had undergone bilateral abdominal vagotomy or selective vagotomies. Abdominal vagotomy or gastric vagotomy abolished or reduced the satiety effect of cholecystokinin, but lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus did not. These results demonstrate that peripherally administered cholecystokinin acts in the abdomen through gastric vagal fibers and not directly on the brain to produce satiety in the rat.

Abdominal vagotomy does not block the satiety effect of bombesin in the rat

Bombesin (2-16 microgram-kg-1, intraperitoneally) inhibited food intake in rats after abdominal vagotomy. Since the same vagotomized rats did not respond to the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (1-8 micrograms-kg-1, intraperitoneally), these data are decisive evidence (1) that bombesin does not produce satiety by releasing endogenous cholecystokinin and (2) that vagal afferents are not necessary for the satiety effect of bombesin.

The satiety effect of cholecystokinin: a progress report

The satiety effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) that was first observed in rats has now been extended to chickens, rabbits, pigs, sheep, rhesus monkeys, lean mice, genetically obese mice and rats, neurologically obese rats, lean men and women, and obese men. The effect is specific and can be obtained in animals and humans without reports or signs of sickness. The mechanism of the effect is unknown, but the gastric vagal fibers are necessary for the effect. This has led to the hypothesis that the satiety effect is due to activation of vagal afferent fibers that inhibit the central control system of feeding by CCK acting directly on recently described vagal CCK receptors and/or indirectly through a gastric smooth muscle effect that vagal receptors are sensitive to.