HPLC-purified human satietin does not produce conditioned taste aversion in rats

Human satietin is thought to be an endogenous glycoprotein that can suppress food intake and body weight. However, it was also found to be aversive when rats infused intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with human satietin were subjected to a two-bottle taste aversion test. More recently, the human satietin previously thought homogenous was separated by HPLC into two Peaks, denoted as A and B. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fitted with chronic third ventricle cannulas and presented with fluid for 1 h/day, while food was given ad lib. After training, the rats were ICV infused with either artificial cerebrospinal fluid, Peak A or Peak B of human satietin. Peak B significantly reduced short-term and 24-h food intake, whereas their fluid intake was nonsignificantly attenuated. Peak A had no affect on either food or fluid intake on the day it was administered. When the rats were given the two-bottle taste aversion test neither compound was found to be aversive. These data suggest that Peak B may contain satietin(s) which could be a candidate for an endogenous satiety agent.