title: The effects of d-fenfluramine on saccharin intake and preference, and on food and water intake.
abstract: The effects of d-fenfluramine on saccharin intake and preference were examined to investigate whether the reduced rate of eating induced by this compound reflects a reduction in the palatability of foods. In two separate experiments, water deprived rats were offered a choice between a 0.05% solution of saccharin and water, or a 0.2% saccharin solution and water. Injection of d-fenfluramine at doses which reliably decreased food intake resulted in dose dependent reductions in total fluid intake and saccharin intake. A trend towards reduced water intake was observed also, and this together with the reduced saccharin intake resulted in no overall change in saccharin preference. In a further experiment, d-fenfluramine reduced the water intake of water deprived rats to the same extent as it reduced total fluid intake in the choice tests. Since d-fenfluramine failed to alter saccharin preference, it is unlikely that the slowed eating rate induced by this compound indicates a reduction in food palatability. Instead, it is likely that this behaviour results from a subtle motor deficit, such that fenfluramine treated animals are unable to maintain ingestion at the same rate as non-drugged animals. This explanation could account for the reduction in the consumption of non-nutritive saccharin solutions and water in water deprived animals. The relevance of this action to the anorectic effect of fenfluramine is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D007536:Isomerism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012439:Saccharin
chemical_list: D005277:Fenfluramine; D012439:Saccharin