Vasopressin and glucoprivic-feeding behavior: a new perspective on an 'old' peptide.
The feeding responses induced by systemic administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and paraventricular hypothalamic injection of norepinephrine were assessed in Brattleboro rats deficient in vasopressin (VP). Controlling for the non-specific complications of diabetes insipidus, it was found that Brattleboro rats have a deficient 2-DG-feeding response, but an essentially normal noradrenergic-feeding response. Specific carbohydrate appetite abnormalities were also demonstrated. It is argued that VP influences 2-DG feeding by mobilizing endogenous energy stores following its acute release from the hypothalamoneurohypophysial system. A new function is thus ascribed for VP and the neural lobe of the pituitary. It is suggested that VP plays a role in stress-induced feeding and in specific aspects of carbohydrate appetite. The potential relevancy of vasopressin perturbations to bulimia nervosa and to the Prader-Willi obesity syndrome is also discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011910:Rats, Brattleboro; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000502:physiology*
D014667:Vasopressins; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005947:Glucose