The rapid increase of incretins glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), within 5-15 min, after food ingestion, suggests that a neural mechanism might be involved in the regulation of their secretion. The aim of this study is to determine whether intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a widely distributed neurotransmmiter, can mediate this neural regulation of GIP secretion after food consumption. Six healthy mongrel dogs were utilized for this study. A prototype epicranial apparatus was placed surgically, allowing easy and exact localization of the third ventricle for infusions or sampling. Simultaneous blood sampling was obtained from cannulation of a hind limb vein. Plasma insulin, and GIP concentrations were measured after i.c.v infusion of 5, 10 and 25 microg of NPY dissolved in 0.5 ml of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (a CSF). The secretion of GIP and insulin were increased after the injection of NPY in a different pattern. Our data indicate that NPY might be involved in a possible neural control mechanism of GIP secretion after food consumption.