title: Evidence that central 5-HT2 receptors do not play an important role in the anorectic activity of D-fenfluramine in the rat.
abstract: To gain information on the role of central 5-HT2 receptors in the reduction of food intake caused by D-fenfluramine in rats, different intraperitoneal doses of metergoline, a non-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist and ritanserin, a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, were compared for their ability (a) to antagonize the anorectic effect of D-fenfluramine; (b) to occupy central 5-HT2 receptors in vivo (measured by the binding of [3H]spiperone in the frontal cortex) and (c) to affect the concentrations of D-fenfluramine and its active metabolite, D-norfenfluramine in brain. Metergoline dose-dependently reduced the effect of D-fenfluramine (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) on food intake, with complete antagonism at 1 mg/kg, a dose which occupies about 50% of cortical 5-HT2 receptors. Ritanserin, at a dose (0.5 mg/kg) causing 50% occupation of 5-HT2 receptors, had no effect on anorexia induced by D-fenfluramine and only partially prevented it at doses which caused maximum occupation of 5-HT2 receptors (1-2 mg/kg). Unlike 1 mg/kg metergoline, 1 mg/kg ritanserin significantly reduced the concentrations of D-norfenfluramine in the frontal cortex and hypothalamus of rats 30 min after injection of D-fenfluramine. The results suggest that 5-HT receptors, other than 5-HT2, possibly 5-HT1B, are involved in the anorectic effect of D-fenfluramine in food-deprived rats.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samanin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mennini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bendotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garattini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008711:Metergoline / Q000494:pharmacology; D009642:Norfenfluramine / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D016713:Ritanserin; D013134:Spiperone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D016713:Ritanserin; D008711:Metergoline; D009642:Norfenfluramine; D005277:Fenfluramine; D013134:Spiperone