Intraduodenal glucose infusions do not affect food intake in the fowl

A series of experiments was performed to examine the role of the duodenum in food intake regulation in the fowl. In each of the experiments, birds were surgically fitted with intraduodenal cannulae. In Experiments 1 to 6, Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) or Rock Cornish cockerels were infused with isosmotic glucose, urea, or saline solutions. Glucose had no effect on food intake as compared with the saline and urea control treatments. In the final experiment, food intake of splanchnicectomized SCWL cockerels was contrasted to that of sham-operated controls, following intraduodenal glucose infusions. No difference between the denerved and intact birds was observed. The duodenum of the fowl, unlike the mammal, does not appear to play a significant role in food intake regulation.