Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

5 p.

Publication Date

7-2011

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Neuroscience Letters

Source ISSN

0304-3940

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.05.011; PubMed Central: PMCID 3130612

Abstract

Fenfluramine reduces hunger and promotes body weight loss by increasing central serotonin (5-HT) signaling. More recently, neuropeptides have been linked to the regulation of feeding behavior, metabolism and body weight. To examine possible interactions between 5-HT and neuropeptides in appetite control, fenfluramine (200 nmol/0.5 μl/side) was administered directly into the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of male rats. Bilateral fenfluramine produced significant hypophagia and increased expression of PVN corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) mRNA and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus within the first hour after drug administration. Fenfluramine's effects on feeding behavior and mRNA expression were blocked by PVN injections of a 5-HT1–2 receptor antagonist, metergoline (15 nmol/0.5 μl/side). These data suggest that 5-HT neurons targeting hypothalamic paraventricular CRF neurons may participate in an appetite control circuit for reducing food intake.

Comments

Accepted version. Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 498, No. 3, (July 2011): 213–217 . DOI. © 2011 Elsevier. Used with permission.

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