Influence of Sex-Hormones on Serum Gastrin and Antral G-Cell Population in Guinea Pigs

Altered protein diets and circadian rhythms of gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) were investigated in 126 male and 126 female Sprague-Dawley rats acclimated for two weeks to a 12:12 hr light-dark cycle. Rats were divided equally and fed low-protein (8%), high-protein (64%) or normal protein (27%) diets for four weeks. All animals were fasted for 24 hr prior to blood collections. Blood samples were collected at 4-hr intervals for 24 hr for determination of plasma gastrin and CCK using specific radioimmunoassays. A significant rhythm for gastrin was detected in males on normal and low-protein diets (P less than 0.03) and in females on low-protein diets (P less than .02). A significant rhythm for CCK was detected (P less than 0.05) in rats of both sexes fed normal and high-protein diets. Mean plasma levels of both peptides were lower in females than males. In a separate study, food intake and body weight were monitored in male rats receiving the three diets over 21 days. Animals on the low-protein diet exhibited reduced food intake and body weight compared to rats fed the normal or high-protein diets.

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