Enhanced inhibitory feeding response to alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in the diet-induced obese rat

Abstract

A dysregulation in the hypothalamic neuropeptide systems involved in the control of appetite has previously been shown in models of diet-induced obesity. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered obese by a highly palatable cafeteria-style diet over 20 weeks, while control rats had access to standard laboratory chow. Feeding responses to α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an anorectic peptide and neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent orexigenic agent were investigated in diet-induced obese and control animals. In addition, endogenous hypothalamic peptide levels were determined in these animals. Intracerebroventricular injections of either 4 nmol α-MSH or saline vehicle wer..