Gastric emptying (GE) of solids was analyzed according to the method described by Telles et al. (13 (link)). One week before the experimental protocols and the pharmacological intervention, Wistar or SHR rats were placed in individual cages with free access to water and feed in Petri dishes, for acclimation to the feeding site. Next, the animals fasted for 24 h. On an experimental day, the rats were allocated to individual boxes and received feed (1.5 g) in Petri dishes. After 10 min, the feed that was not consumed was removed from the cage and weighed, thus estimating the amount ingested by each rat by subtraction. In SHR groups, the feed was removed, and, after 5-min, the groups were treated with BBG (50 mg/kg, sc), a P2X7 antagonist (14 (link)). Thirty minutes after BBG, 2 separate groups received ANG II (100 μg/kg, ip) (15 (link)) or ATP (2 mg/kg, ip) (16 (link)). Ninety minutes after the treatments, the rats were sacrificed by an overdose of sodium thiopental (100 mg/kg, ip). Then, a median laparotomy was performed, so that the pylorus and cardia were clamped, thus allowing the removal of the stomach without altering the gastric content. After the stomach was removed, it was opened at the greater curvature and its contents were recovered. The recovered material was dried in an oven at a temperature of 100°C for 4 h, after which the content was weighed to calculate the gastric emptying according to the formula: Gastric emptying (%) = (1 - [dry weight of feed recovered from stomach / weight of feed intake]) × 100.
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