Nutrient-induced gastrointestinal hyperemia and specific dynamic action in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)--importance of proteins and lipids.

Mechanical gastric distension induces a dorsal aortic pressor response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with no change in gastrointestinal blood flow. To elucidate what role chemical stimuli from the digested food has on the postprandial cardiovascular response, a new method was developed to investigate the contribution of individual nutrient components. Three predigested experimental diets were injected directly into the proximal intestine of rainbow trout and cardiac output (CO), gut blood flow (Qcma), heart rate (HR), and stroke volume (SV) were recorded. Specific dynamic action (SDA) was estimated by measuring oxygen consumption. When a balanced diet (50% protein, 25% fat, 15% carbohydrate) was injected, Qcma and CO increased within 1 h by 45 and 27%, respectively. The response to a high-protein diet (70% protein, 5% fat, 15% carbohydrate) was quantitatively similar but delayed, with a maximal blood flow response after 2 h. With a high-lipid diet (60% fat, 15% protein, 15% carbohydrate), the peak increase in Qcma by 22% occurred after 30 min and thereafter declined rapidly. The SDA response (19%) to the balanced diet was temporally matched with the hyperemia. With a high-protein diet, the response is delayed and enlarged (34%) compared with the balanced diet. The high-lipid diet gave no significant SDA response. We conclude that the chemical composition of the food influences the postprandial hyperemia and the SDA, such that the components appear to work in a synergistic fashion. The present results also demonstrate that both redistribution of blood flow and an overall increase in CO contribute to the postprandial increase in gut blood flow in this species.