The effect of dietary fat on diet selection may involve central serotonin.
Rats consuming a diet of 34% tallow select more protein and less carbohydrate than rats fed either 5% corn oil or tallow or 34% corn oil (25). To examine potential mechanism(s) of this phenomenon, we fed rats diets containing either tallow or corn oil at levels of 5 or 34% for 2 days. Sera were analyzed, and rats fed 34% tallow had higher serum insulin compared with those fed 34% corn oil. In a second experiment, rats were fed either 34% corn oil or tallow for 2 days. Brain tissues were analyzed, and rats fed 34% tallow had elevated serotonin in the raphe area compared with those fed 34% corn oil. In a third experiment, rats were fed either 34% corn oil or tallow for 2 days and then given dl-fenfluramine before diet selection. Fenfluramine depressed food intake to a greater degree in rats fed 34% tallow compared with those fed corn oil. These findings suggest that the diet selection behavior observed in tallow-fed rats may be mediated by a central serotonin system.
Mullen
B J
BJ
Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
Martin
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005223:Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005223:Fats; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003314:Corn Oil; C013698:tallow