The effect of endogenous sugar acids on the afferent discharge rate of the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve in the rat.

The effects of intraportal administration of endogenous sugar acids such as 2DTA, 3DPA and 2B40 on afferent activity of the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve were investigated in the rat. A decrease in afferent discharge rate was observed after administration of 2DTA (0.1 mM approximately 10 mM, 0.1 ml) and 2B4O (100 nM approximately 2 microM, 0.1 approximately 0.2 ml), whereas 3DPA (0.1 mM approximately 10 mM, 0.1 ml) increased the afferent activity. These observations suggest that 2DTA and 2B4O suppress, and 3DPA enhances food intake behavior and may be important in the regulation of blood glucose homeostasis through glucose-sensitive vagal hepatic afferent fibers.