Fig. 3.

Plasma ghrelin responses to duodenal infusions of isotonic saline, 5-fold hypertonic saline, and 5-fold hypertonic saline pre- and coinfused with the local neural blocker lidocaine. Ghrelin was suppressed by the small intestinal presence of hypertonic saline, i.e., a nonglycemic, noninsulinotropic, noncaloric, nonfermentable hyperosmolar substance. Pre- and coinfusion of the neural blocker lidocaine did not attenuate ghrelin suppression. *Significant between-condition differences (ANOVA P < 0.05) for individual time points.