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A Potential and Novel Therapy for Obesity: “Appendix” Electrical Stimulation in Dogs

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Abstract

Background

Intestinal electrical stimulation (IES) has been introduced as a potential therapy for obesity. However, it is unknown whether the effects of IES on gastrointestinal motility and food intake are location-specific. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of “appendix” (cecum in dog) electrical stimulation (AES) on gastric tone, gastric emptying, and food intake in dogs.

Methods

Twelve healthy dogs were used in three experiments. In experiments 1 and 2, gastric tone and food intake were studied in six dogs implanted with a gastric cannula and one pair of stimulation electrodes in the “appendix.” Experiment 3 was performed to study gastric emptying in six dogs with a duodenal cannula and one pair of stimulation electrodes in the “appendix.”

Results

(1) AES resulted in proximal gastric distention, with gastric volume increased from 114.9 ± 10.7 mL at baseline to 301.7 ± 37.1 mL during AES (p = 0.001), and the effect was completely blocked by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. (2) Gastric emptying was delayed at 90 min from 69.8 ± 9.5% in the control session to 15.2 ± 3.6% in the AES session (p = 0.002). 3) AES reduced food intake (average daily intake over a 1-week period) by 55.4% (550.4 ± 17.6 g at control vs. 245.7 ± 17.1 g with AES, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

AES reduces gastric tone via the nitrergic pathway, delays gastric emptying, and inhibits food intake in healthy dogs. These data suggest the therapeutic potential of AES for obesity. Additionally, AES is technically more feasible than electrical stimulation of the stomach or duodenum because a stimulator with electrodes may be placed into the appendix via colonoscopy.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by Oklahoma Center for the advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) Grants HR08-060.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Research Foundation, VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Yong Lei & Jiande D. Z. Chen

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Rute 0655, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77555-0655, USA

    Jiande D. Z. Chen

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  1. Yong Lei
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  2. Jiande D. Z. Chen
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Correspondence to Jiande D. Z. Chen.

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Lei, Y., Chen, J.D.Z. A Potential and Novel Therapy for Obesity: “Appendix” Electrical Stimulation in Dogs. OBES SURG 21, 397–403 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0281-1

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