Vagotomy Suppresses Body Weight Gain in a Rat Model of Gastric Banding

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vagotomy on body weight changes after gastric banding. Methods: Rats were divided into a sham-operated group (n = 10), a vagotomy alone group (n = 10), a gastric banding alone group (n = 10) and a gastric banding + vagotomy group (n = 10). All groups were given a liquid diet for 5 days after surgery and then given free access to chow. Their body weight was measured through postoperative day (POD) 14, and caloric intake and nitrogen balance were measured until POD 7. Results: The increase in body weight in the banding + vagotomy group between POD 0 and POD 14 was not significant (12.5 ± 16.8 g; p = 0.48), and it was less than in the banding alone group (52.8 ± 3.8 g; p = 0.031). Cumulative caloric intake from POD 5 to POD 7 was less in the banding + vagotomy group than in the banding alone group (158.6 ± 26.3 vs. 223.9 ± 8.3 kcal; p = 0.030). Daily nitrogen balance from POD 5 to POD 7 in the banding + vagotomy group was less than in the banding group (337 ± 77 vs. 540 ± 42 mg; p = 0.033). Conclusions: Vagotomy suppressed body weight gain in the rat model of gastric banding.