In this study, we investigated the analogies between the physiological effects of
simmondsin, a satiety-inducing glycoside extracted from jojoba seeds, and the gastro-intestinal
satiation peptide, cholecystokinin. The effects of intraperitoneal injection of the
biological active CCK-octapeptide on the pancreas, interscapular brown adipose tissue,
growth performance and energy metabolism in normal-fed, severely food intake-restricted
(50% of normal food intake) or moderately food intake-restricted (65% of normal food
intake) growing rats were compared to the effects of 0.25% simmondsin mixed in the
food, inducing moderate food intake reduction (65% of normal) in rats. Cholecystokinin
induced pancreatic hypertrophy. In normal fed rats, cholecystokinin had no effect
on brown adipose tissue or growth, while, in severely food intake-restricted rats,
it caused brown adipose tissue hypertrophy and reduced growth. In moderately food
intake-restricted rats, both cholecystokinin and simmondsin induced pancreatic hypertrophy,
increased brown adipose weight and metabolism and caused a slight decrease in growth.
We conclude that cholecystokinin may decrease growth performance in fast growing severely
food intake-restricted rats by stimulating brown adipose tissue metabolism, probably
because of protein shortage induced by pancreatic hyperstimulation. Simmondsin has
similar effects. These results support the hypothesis that endogenous cholecystokinin
is involved in the effects of simmondsin in rats.
Key words
Food intake - Food regulation - Satiety - Rat - Energy metabolism - Jojoba
