Modulation of feeding and drinking behaviour by catecholamines injected into nucleus caudatus in rats

Lesions of nucleus caudatus have been documented to produce adipsia and aphasia in rats. Injection of dopamine into this nucleus has been shown to facilitate water intake in rats. But, reports are not available on the effects of intracerebral injection of epinephrine and norepinephrine on feeding and drinking behaviour in animal models. Therefore, in the present study the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline injected into nucleus caudatus on food and water intake in rats was assessed. 24 h basal food and water intakes were recorded in Wistar rats and were found to be 12.37 +/- 0.20 g and 22.04 +/- 0.27 ml respectively. Stainless steel cannulae were implanted stereotaxically into the nucleus caudatus. Four different doses (0.1 microgram, 0.5 microgram, 1 microgram, and 2 micrograms) of adrenaline and noradrenaline were injected into the nucleus caudatus through the implanted cannulae in separate groups of animals and their 24 h food and water intakes were recorded following these injections. No change in food and water intake was observed following the administration of different doses of adrenaline. A significant increase in 24 h food intake reaching a maximum of 16.03 +/- 0.15 g at 2 micrograms dose, without change in water intake was observed following administration of different doses of noradrenaline. The noradrenaline-facilitated food intake was blocked when noradrenaline was injected following injection of phentolamine, an alpha-receptor blocker. The bilateral lesions of nucleus caudatus resulted in a significant and sustained inhibition of food (8.98 +/- 0.17 g) and water intake (19.12 +/- 0.16 ml). These observations suggest that nucleus caudatus is involved in regulation of food and water intakes in rats. Noradrenaline-facilitated food intake is mediated by alpha-receptors. Adrenaline does not affect these ingestive behaviours when injected into the nucleus caudatus in rats.