Effect of short-term propionate infusion on feed intake and blood
parameters in sheep.
Leuvenink, H. G. D., E. J. B. Bleumer, L. J. G. M. Bongers, J. Van
Bruchem, D. Van Der Heide.
Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Dept of Human and Animal
Physiology, Agricultural University, Haarweg 10, 6709 PJ Wageningen,
The Netherlands
APStracts 4:0050E, 1997.
The hypothesis that propionate is a short-term feed intake regulating
agent was studied. Mature wether sheep were infused over 20 min with
Na-propionate into the mesenteric vein, while monitoring feed intake
and feeding pattern over 1.5 hours. Feed intake was reduced by
infusions at 2 mmol/min which were associated with marked increases
in jugular as well as portal concentrations of insulin, glucose and
propionate. In a second experiment, animals were infused with 2
mmol/min Na-propionate into the portal vein. No decrease in feed
intake was observed, though with similar increases in insulin,
glucose and propionate as found in mesenteric vein infused animals.
It is concluded that mesenteric propionate in high doses acts as a
satiety factor. Possible explanations for the difference between site
of infusion may be a different distribution of the infusate over the
liver, and/or the presence of propionate sensitive receptors in the
mesenteric/portal vein region. It seems not likely that insulin
concentrations are involved in inducing satiety in propionate infused
animals.
Received 15 October 1996; accepted in final form 14 February
1997.
APS Manuscript Number E511-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 March 1997