The effect of dietary fat on diet selection may involve central serotonin

Rats consuming a diet of 34% tallow select more protein and less carbohydrate than rats fed either 5% corn oil or tallow or 34% corn oil (25). To examine potential mechanism(s) of this phenomenon, we fed rats diets containing either tallow or corn oil at levels of 5 or 34% for 2 days. Sera were analyzed, and rats fed 34% tallow had higher serum insulin compared with those fed 34% corn oil. In a second experiment, rats were fed either 34% corn oil or tallow for 2 days. Brain tissues were analyzed, and rats fed 34% tallow had elevated serotonin in the raphe area compared with those fed 34% corn oil. In a third experiment, rats were fed either 34% corn oil or tallow for 2 days and then given dl-fenfluramine before diet selection. Fenfluramine depressed food intake to a greater degree in rats fed 34% tallow compared with those fed corn oil. These findings suggest that the diet selection behavior observed in tallow-fed rats may be mediated by a central serotonin system.