title: Effects of cyanamide on body weight and brain monoamines and metabolites in rats.
abstract: Cyanamide, a disulfiram-like drug used in the treatment of alcoholism, decreased in a dose-dependent manner (2-25 mg/kg) the body weight gain curve in rats, which resulted in a marked decrease of body weight (10-35%). Long-term administration of cyanamide also decreased food intake (6-34%) in a dose-dependent manner (2-25 mg/kg). Both effects of cyanamide were reversible. After the acute and long-term administration (1-12 months) of cyanamide (8-35 mg/kg) the brain concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol sulphate (MOPEG-SO4) was also significantly increased (26-46%). Cyanamide, however, had no effects on the brain concentration of noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid. It is suggested that the loss of weight, the decrease in food intake and the increase in brain MOPEG-SO4 induced by cyanamide reflect possible anorectic properties of the drug.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D003484:Cyanamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D002395:Catecholamines; D003486:Cyanides; C030284:3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulfate; D012701:Serotonin; D003484:Cyanamide; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol