We compared the effects of the two molecular forms of the brain-gut peptide YY (PYY), PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36), on gastric emptying. Unanesthetized rats received 20-min intravenous infusions of rat PYY(1-36) (0, 1.7, 5, 17, 50, 100, 170 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ) and rat PYY(3-36) (0, 0.5, 1.7, 5, 17, 50, 100, 170 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ), either alone or combined, and gastric emptying of saline was measured during the last 10 min of infusion. For comparison, human PYY(3-36) was administered at 0, 17, and 50 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 . Gastric emptying was decreased by 11, 24, 26 and 38% in response to 17, 50, 100, and 170 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 of rat PYY(1-36); by 10, 26, 41, 53, and 57% in response to 5, 17, 50, 100, and 170 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 of rat PYY(3-36); and by 35 and 53% in response to 17 and 50 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 of human PYY(3-36), respectively. Estimated ED50s were 470 and 37 pmol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 for rat PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36), respectively. In general, within an experiment, coadministration of PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36) inhibited gastric emptying by an amount that was comparable to that produced when either peptide was given alone. We conclude that 1) intravenous infusion of PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36) each produces a dose-dependent inhibition of gastric emptying in rats, 2) PYY(3-36) is an order of magnitude more potent than PYY(1-36) in inhibiting gastric emptying, 3) human PYY(3-36) and rat PYY(3-36) inhibit gastric emptying similarly, and 4) PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36) do not appear to interact in an additive or synergistic manner to inhibit gastric emptying. intravenous infusion; dose response; interaction PEPTIDE YY (PYY), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) comprise the "PP-fold" family of structurally related brain-gut peptides. PYY is synthesized in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Endocrine cells of the ileum, colon, and rectum provide a major source of PYY (2, 47). PYY has also been detected in gastric mucosa, pancreatic islets, myenteric and serosal ganglia, sympathetic neurons, adrenal gland, spinal cord, and brain, including the hypothalamus, pituitary, pons, medulla oblongata, and the brain stem (7-9, 15, 16, 22, 30, 32, 37).Food intake releases PYY into the circulation (2, 47). Systemic administration of PYY inhibits food intake, gastric emptying, intestinal fluid and electrolyte secretion, gallbladder contraction, and exocrine pancreatic secretion (5, 36). Whether PYY acts physiologically by endocrine, neurocrine, and/or paracrine mechanisms to produce these effects remains to be determined. If PYY acts as a blood-borne hormonal signal to produce an effect, then it is important to determine whether the effect is produced by intravenous doses of PYY that reproduce meal-induced increases in plasma PYY.The two major molecular forms of PYY found in the gut and circulation are PYY(1-36) and PYY(3-36) (19 -21). In humans, plasma concentrations of PYY were reported to be 11 pM in the fasted state with PYY(3-36) contributing 37% ...