Effect of truncal vagotomy on neurotensin-like immunoreactivity release in dogs.

To elucidate the relationship between the vagus nerve and circulating neurotensin release, mongrel dogs were given an intraduodenal infusion of a 50 ml water solution containing 10 g glucose (n = 4) or 5 g soybean oil (n = 7) over a period of 4 min before and after truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty. In the prevagotomized animals only a slight increase of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) was observed following glucose infusion, while NTLI in response to fat infusion was significantly increased. After vagotomy, NTLI release following fat infusion was significantly decreased when compared to untreated control animals, suggesting that vagotomy causes a major alteration in circulating NTLI release and that the vagus nerve may play a definite role in fat-induced NTLI release.