“…These effects are thought to be mediated both by direct effects of circulating hormones on the hypothalamus and by actions on vagal afferent neurons that project to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). In addition, vagal afferent neurons may respond directly to mechanical, chemical, or inflammatory stimuli, whereas spinal afferent neurons serving the gastrointestinal tract are involved primarily in transmission of noxious stimuli (Andrews, 1986;Janig and Morrison, 1986;Holzer, 1998). The brain-gut peptide CCK is released from enteroendocrine cells by fat and protein and in turn acts at CCK-1 receptors on vagal afferent neurons (Smith et al, 1981;Ritter and Ladenheim, 1985;Moran et al, 1990;Moriarty et al, 1997;McLaughlin et al, 1999;Reidelberger et al, 2003).…”