Stereospecific reduction by narcotic antagonists of clonidine-induced food intake

The present study examined the effect of opiate antagonists on clonidine-induced feeding in rabbits. The change in food intake induced by clonidine was blocked by naltrexone. The active (-)-isomer of the antagonist 5,9 alpha-diethyl-2-(3-furylmethyl)-2'-hydroxy-6,7-benzomorphan had an effect similar to naltrexone. Similar doses of the (+)-isomer were inactive, except at the highest dose used in the study. The results suggest that opiate antagonists block feeding elicited by a specific noradrenoreceptor agonist and that this inhibition is due to a direct interaction with opiate systems.