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Evidence that blockade of post-synaptic 5-HT1 receptors elicits feeding in satiated rats

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Abstract

The effects of nine central 5-HT antagonists on food intake in free feeding male rats were examined. The 5-HT2 antagonists ritanserin and ketanserin and the selective 5-HT3 antagonists ICS 205-930 and MDL 72222 had no effect on food intake. In contrast, the non-selective 5-HT antagonists metergoline, methiothepin, mesulergine, mianserin and methysergide (all of which have high affinity for various 5-HT1 receptor subtypes), dose-dependently increased food intake during a 4-h daytime test. Furthermore, metergoline dose dependently increased food intake over a 24-h period. Suprisingly, mesulergine decreased food intake over a 24-h period at the same doses that increased daytime food intake. This may indicate that the increase in daytime feeding produced by mesulergine is a non-specific response. Although the antagonists used have varying degrees of selectivity for 5-HT receptor subtypes, the pattern of results suggests that postsynaptic 5-HT1 receptors (possibly of the 5-HT1C type) play an important role in the control of feeding in rats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Eastwick Road, CM20 2QR, Harlow, Esse, UK

    C. T. Dourish, M. L. Clark & S. D. Iversen

  2. Department of Biomedical Research, Wyeth Research (UK), Huntercombe Lane South, Taplow, SL6 OPH, Nr. Maidenhead, Berks, UK

    A. Fletcher

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  1. C. T. Dourish
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  2. M. L. Clark
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  3. A. Fletcher
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  4. S. D. Iversen
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Dourish, C.T., Clark, M.L., Fletcher, A. et al. Evidence that blockade of post-synaptic 5-HT1 receptors elicits feeding in satiated rats. Psychopharmacology 97, 54–58 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443413

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443413

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