Feeding behavior responses of Zucker rats to naloxone

The effects of naloxone on feeding patterns were studied in both obese and lean Zucker rats during both light and dark phases of the diurnal cycle. Eight female obese (471 +/- 9 g) and lean (225 +/- 6 g) Zucker rats were trained to bar press for food. They were administered 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg naloxone at the initiation of the light or dark phase of the diurnal cycle and feeding behavior was recorded for the subsequent 12 hr using an automated real-time data collection system. First meal size and duration were decreased and first postmeal interval was increased by naloxone and responses did not vary with phenotype or phase of the diurnal cycle. Naloxone decreased food intake during the 12-hr period by decreasing average meal size but meal frequency was not affected. Overall, the feeding behavior responses of obese rats to naloxone were greater than those of lean rats, supporting the hypothesis of an association between opioid peptides and obesity. Opioid involvement in diurnal control of food intake is also supported by the greater responses generally demonstrated in the light compared with dark phases.