Contribution of caudal brainstem to d-fenfluramine anorexia

Of the central 5-HT substrates that may mediate the anorexic actions of systemically administered d-fenfluramine (d-FEN), those in the forebrain have received the most attention. As a counterpoint to this forebrain focus, we evaluated the contribution of caudal brainstem substrates to the anorexic action of d-FEN. Two experimental protocols were employed. In one we compared the feeding response (intra-oral intake of 12.5% glucose) of intact and chronic supracollicular decerebrate (CD) rats to systemic administration of d-FEN. In the other, d-FEN was administered via fourth intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection to determine whether a dose-related suppression of intra-oral intake could be obtained. A dose-dependent suppression of intra-oral intake was obtained in the CD rat treated with d-FEN (0-8 mg/kg, delivered IP 20 min before testing). The threshold dose was two to three times higher in CD rats than in their intact controls, but the dynamic range of the dose-response curves of the two groups were overlapping with similar slopes of decline and with comparable maximal intake suppression. Fourth ICV administration of d-FEN in the intact rat yielded a dose-related suppression of intra-oral intake. Intake was also suppressed by fourth ICV d-FEN (30 mg) when rats drank 12.5% glucose solution from a spout. The reduced intra-oral intake following fourth ICV d-FEN treatment was partially attenuated by the systemic administration of the serotonin antagonist metergoline (0.4 mg/kg; IP). The CD results demonstrate the sufficiency of caudal brainstem receptors in mediating intake suppressive responses to systemic d-FEN. The fourth ICV results suggest further that 5-HT receptors in the caudal brainstem play a significant role in normal meal size control in the neurologically intact rat.