Chronic Tachygastrial Electrical Stimulation Reduces Food Intake in Dogs

OBJECTIVE: Tachygastria is known to be associated with gastric hypomotility. This study investigated the effect of tachygastrial electrical stimulation (TES) on food intake and its effects on gastric motility. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Five experiments were performed to study the effects of TES on gastric slow waves, gastric tone, accommodation, and antral contractions, gastric emptying, acute food intake, and chronic food intake in dogs. RESULTS: TES at tachygastrial frequencies induced tachygastria and reduced normal slow waves. TES significantly reduced gastric tone or induced gastric distention, impaired gastric accommodation, and inhibited antral contractions. TES significantly delayed gastric emptying. Acute TES reduced food intake but did not induce any noticeable symptoms. Chronic TES resulted in a 20% reduction in food intake, and the effect of TES was found to be related to specific parameters. DISCUSSION: TES at the distal antrum results in a significant reduction in food intake in dogs, and this inhibitory effect is probably attributed to TES-induced reduction in proximal gastric tone, gastric accommodation, antral contractility, and gastric emptying. These data suggest a therapeutic potential of the specific method of TES for obesity.