Neuroanatomical specificity of prolactin-induced hyperphagia in virgin female rats

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of PRL increases food intake in virgin female rats but the brain site(s) at which PRL acts to promote feeding behavior is not known. The present studies investigated the role of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventromedial nucleus (VMH), and medial preoptic nucleus (MPOA) in the hyperphagic actions of PRL. Ad-libitum-fed virgin female rats received twice daily site-specific injections of PRL (800 ng) over a period of 10 days. Only subjects demonstrating regular vaginal cyclicity were included in the study. Food intake, body weight, and vaginal cyclicity were measured daily. Results showed that PRL significantly increased food intake when injected into the PVN. A nonsignificant trend towards a hyperphagic response in the last 5 days of testing was observed in rats receiving intra-VMH injections of PRL, and the MPOA was not responsive to the feeding-stimulating properties of PRL. None of the manipulations affected body weight or vaginal cyclicity as demonstrated by vaginal smears. In sum, the present results reveal that one brain site at which PRL acts to increase food intake is the PVN, but these studies do not rule out the possibility that the effects of PRL on food intake may also involve other brain areas.