Prolonged intestinal afferent nerve discharge in response to cholecystokinin-58 compared to cholecystokinin-8 in rats.

Intestinal afferents are sensitive to cholecystokinin (CCK) octapeptide. However, CCK-58 may be a more biologically relevant molecule. Therefore, recordings from jejunal mesenteric afferent bundles were secured for extracellular multi-unit recording and the responses to CCK-8 and CCK-58 compared. CCK-8 and CCK-58 (i.v.) evoked a dose-dependent, devazepide sensitive, increase in afferent nerve discharge. Peak discharge frequency was higher for CCK-8 at all doses (P < 0.05). However, response duration was more prolonged for CCK-58 (P < 0.05) at 200 pmol.kg(-1). This resulted in an overall increase in area under the curve of CCK-58 compared to CCK-8 (P < 0.05). CCK-58 stimulates afferent discharge in a different pattern than CCK-8 and, therefore, may have differential biological effects.