Food intake and selection pattern of rats treated with dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine and RU 24969

The effects of two indirect (dexfenfluramine and fluoxetine) and one direct (RU 24969) serotonergic agonists on diet selection over a 12-hr period were examined. Rats were habituated to eat, during the dark period, from two isoenergetic diets that differed in carbohydrate and protein content. Drugs were injected intraperitoneally at 1845 hr, 15 min prior to food access. The drugs exerted their effects mainly during the first hour of feeding (1900-2000 hr). At this time, a selective suppression in intake of the high carbohydrate-low protein diet was the most prominent characteristic of all three serotonergic agonists. This macronutrient specific effect was particularly strong at low dosages (dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine and RU 24969: 0.5, 2.0 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively). With time, as the effect of drugs wore off, diet selection pattern became more variable. The fact that both indirect 5-HT agonists and a direct selective 5-HT receptor agonist share a specific behavioral effect provides additional support for the role of serotonin in the control of macronutrient specific appetites.