Anorexigenic effects of d-amphetamine and l-DOPA in the rat

The effect of amphetamine and l-dopa was compared in 22-hr food- and water-deprived rats. Amphetamine produced marked anorexia, and l-dopa significantly reduced food intake at 200 mg/kg. Following pretreatment with RO 4-4602, a decarboxylase inhibitor, 100 mg/kg of l-dopa, a dose that did not significantly affect eating, produced marked anorexia. The anorectic effect of both amphetamine and l-dopa was antagonized by propranolol, a beta adrenergic antagonist. Phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, potentiated the anorectic effect of amphetamine and l-dopa. Haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg), a dopamine antagonist, failed to prevent the anorexia due to amphetamine but accentuated that due to l-dopa. Methysergide, a serotonin antagonist, also failed to prevent the anorexigenic effect of amphetamine. Finally, the administration of l-dopa with or without peripheral decarboxylase inhibition resulted in more than twice the increase in hypothalamic dopamine levels without significant changes in 5-HT or norepinephrine levels. The data show that the anorexigenic effect of amphetamine and l-dopa are similar and indicate a functional role for both norepinephrine and dopamine neurons in feeding behaviour in the rat.