REGULATION OF FOOD-INTAKE

Food intake results in distention of the stomach with subsequent activ ation of afferent vagal fibers via gastric stretch receptors. The affe rent vagal fibers transmit the information about tile volume of a meal to the regulatory center ill the hypothalamus. Apart from this neural ly mediated pathway there is most likely a hormonally mediated regulat ory loop which is activated by the chemical constituents of a meal. Ne ural and hormonal factors activate inhibitory neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus which signal termination of food intake. The exact natur e of the peripherally activated hormonal signal and the interaction be tween the various stimulatory and inhibitory hypothalamic neurotransmi tters are as get largely unknown.