The Identification and Spatial Distribution of Different Nutrient Receptors Along the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract

Investigating which receptors are involved in nutient sensing of enteroendocrine cells and on nerve endings, gives further knowledge on the kind of nutrients responsible for the secretion of gut hormones involved in satiety signalling. So far only little is know about the distribution of potential nutient sensing receptors along the gastrointestinal tract. The investigators are interested in the intestinal parts which highly secrete CCK and GLP-1. By comparing these tissues, it is expected to further elucidate which receptors are important for satiety signalling in the intestine.

Having this information gives rise to further reseach on how these receptors stimulate the secretion of gut hormones. Moreover, knowing which receptors are involved in satiety signalling, gives oppertunity for targeting these receptors to increase satiety and influencing food intake.

The investigators aim to investigate the distribution of the above mentioned receptors, in the following referred to as 'nutrient sensing receptors', which have been suggested to be involved in satiety signalling, throughout the intestinal tract. For these receptors the gene expression, localisation and protein expression will be determined at different locations. This will be measured in intestinal mucosal biopsies of two locations in the duodenum, in the terminal ileum, the ascending colon, the transverse colon and the descending colon.