Stimulation of food intake in rats by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists xylazine and detomidine.
Effects of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists xylazine and detomidine on food intake in freely feeding male rats were evaluated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of xylazine (0.25-3 mg/kg) and detomidine (25 and 50 micrograms/kg) significantly increased the 2 and 24 h food intake from control values. Treatment of rats with the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) 15 min before xylazine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) or detomidine (50 micrograms/kg, i.p.) significantly inhibited the increase in food intake. Yohimbine treatments alone at 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p. did not significantly change the 2 and 24 h food intake from control values. The results suggest that the alpha 2-agonists xylazine and detomidine enhance food intake in rats.
Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Iraq.
N H
NH
Majeed
F K
FK
Mohammad
R S
RS
Ayoub
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014991:Xylazine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D014991:Xylazine; D015016:Yohimbine; C041255:detomidine