Pharmacological manipulations of sucrose consumption in the Syrian hamster

Nondeprived, male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were adapted to a daily schedule of 2-hr access to a 10% sucrose solution. Two benzodiazepines, midazolam (1.0-10 mg/kg) and flurazepam (1.0-10 mg/kg), produced dose-dependent increases in sucrose consumption. In contrast, the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine (0.01-0.3 mg/kg), had no effect on sucrose intake. Neither d-fenfluramine nor d-amphetamine affected sucrose ingestion in the hamsters, except at a large dose (10 mg/kg). Nevertheless, significant, dose-dependent reductions in sucrose consumption were observed after the administration of either opiate antagonists (naltrexone; nalmefene) or selective dopamine D2 receptor agonists (N-0437; quinpirole). The results are compared and contrasted with previously reported data for rats.