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Gastrointestinal Stimuli in the Control of Feed Intake in Ponies¹

University of Pennsylvania^,3, Kennett Square 19348

Abstract

The importance of gastrointestinal (GI) cues in the control of feed intake in ponies was investigated. The feeding behavior of seven ponies was recorded after intragastric (IG) loads of 2 liters water (control), or solutions (2 liters) of 300 g glucose, alpha-cellulose or kaolin. Treatments were given 15 min before refeeding after a 4-h fast. Intragastric glucose delayed (P<.01) onset of feeding 113 ± 65 min. During this latency period ponies exhibited normal satiety behaviors. Once glucose-treated animals began to eat, their meal size, duration and intermeal intervals were comparable to those observed after the other treatments. After water, cellulose and kaolin loads and ponies immediately ate meals of similar size (.48 ± .27; .39 ± .18 and .36 ± .23 kg), and durations (44 ± 20; 45 ± 34 and 38 ± 11 min) and waited comparable periods of time before their second meal (74 ± 45; 71 ± 45 and 55 ± 16 min). Cellulose reduced (P<.05) intakes 3 to 18 h post-treatment (1.73 ± .52 kg vs control, 2.24 ± .51 kg), whereas glucose loads decreased (P<.05) intakes 0 to 3 h post-treatment. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at regular intervals pre- and post-treatment in three ponies during replication. Changes were correlated with the observed feeding responses. Four ponies were given solutions (.83 osmol) of 100 or 200 g glucose or an equivalent volume of water intragastrically under the same experimental conditions. The glucose effect on feeding behavior proved to be dose-related. The results demonstrate that intragastric loads of nutrients generate satiety cues in ponies that are not related to the volume or bulk of the treatments.

¹ This research was supported in part by grants in aid from the Fund for the Study of Feeding behavior, Dept. of Clin. Studies, School of Vet. Med., Univ. of Pennsylvania and NIH Training Grant GM-02051-10.

² The authors are grateful for the technical assistance of Ms. Terri Wilkinson. We thank Dr. David Freeman for his aid in the surgical preparation.

³ School of Vet Med.