Effects of 5-HT on the structure of feeding behavior of rats pretreated with cyproheptadine

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of 5-HT in animals pretreated with cyproheptadine (5-HT receptor antagonist) on the patterns of feeding behavior of rats. The drugs were injected into the nucleus of paraventricular hypothalamus (NPV). The animals were maintainded on a self-selection feeding paradigm and provided wiht freely available ans separate sources of protein, carbohydrates, fat and water. The rats were kept at 21/ 1ºC on a 12-h light: 12-h dark cyle. Our results indicate that the administration of cyproheptadine into NPV attenuated the suppresive effect of 5-HT on carbohydrate intake, including the onset o the natural ( dark) feeding period.