The role of opioid receptor sub-types in tifluadom-induced feeding

There is now considerable evidence that opioid agonists and benzodiazepines increase food and water intake in a variety of animal species. The appetitive effects of the novel opioid-benzodiazepine tifluadom have been investigated. (+/-)-Tifluadom significantly increased food intake in freely-feeding rats. This stimulation of appetite was attributable principally to the activity of the (+)-isomer. Furthermore tifluadom-induced feeding was blocked by the opioid antagonists naloxone, naltrexone, Mr 1452 and Mr 2266 but not by the delta-opioid receptor antagonist ICI 154, 129, or by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. These results suggest that tifluadom exerts its effect on food intake by interaction with opioid as opposed to benzodiazepine receptors and that this activity is mediated by kappa and/or mu- rather than delta-opioid receptor sub-types.