LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF GASTRIC PACING TO REDUCE FEED-INTAKE IN SWINE

Background: The purpose of this study was to show the effect of chroni c antral gastric electrical stimulation on the feeding behaviour of sw ine. Methods: Three groups of swine were investigated; first group con trol-group, second group - 8 months of electrical antral stimulation ( 10 Volts; 450 micros; Hertz 100; Mode: Cycling; on time 3.25 s; off ti me 5.15 s), the third group - 3 months of stimulation with modificatio n of the following parameters - amplitude 8 Volts, hertz 5. All animal s were nourished with commercial balanced dry feed ad libitum. Results : Group one demonstrated continued increased weight gain, After 90 day s of stimulation, group two noted a net decrease of feed intake from 1 2% to 16%, followed by a net cyclical weight loss 30 days later (2 wee ks of weight gain followed by 1 week of weight loss). The percentage d ifference between group one and two in increasing weight was -12 to 29 % respectively, The feed output of the stimulated group (group two) wa s 12.8 less compared with control, The net weight loss was of 19 to 29 .6 kg compared with control. Finally, group three was used to test a l ower stimulation rate, resulting in a shorter rest during feeding and a 7% increase in consumption compared with control. Conclusions: Long- term antral gastric pacing influences the alimentary behaviour of swin e, We attempt to extrapolate this influence in humans for possible att endant applications in patients with consumption dysfunction(e.g. buli mia and/or anorexia).