Glucose antimetabolites and hunger (theoretical article)

A decrease in the cellular utilization of glucose produced by several glucose antimetabolites and especially by 2 deoxy-D-glucose considerably stimulates food intake. An analysis of this phenomenon is presented in terms of the available experimental evidence. Experiments in which glucose antimetabolites have been administered so as to influence selectively the central and peripheral glucosensitive loci suggest a possible mechanism for the action of the substances. The mechanisms by which glucose antimetabolites and exogenous insulin induce cellular glucoprivation and the subsequent changes in food intake are compared and discussed.