title: Intra-arcuate opiate actions stimulate GRF-dependent and protein-selective feeding.
abstract: Growth-hormone releasing factor (GRF) induces feeding and growth hormone (GH) release. Opiates activate GRF neurons regulating GH release. This study sought to determine whether opiate actions on GRF neurons would also stimulate feeding. In Experiment 1, Wistar male rats received intra-arcuate morphine (0, 1, 10, and 20 micrograms/0.5 milligrams) which increased protein intake/feeding activity. In Experiment 2, this effect was blocked when Wistar male rats received intra-SCN/MPOA pretreatments with GRF antiserum followed by intra-arcuate morphine (1 microgram/0.5 milligrams) injections. The data suggest that an opioid trigger may stimulate complementary central (feeding effects) and peripheral (GH release) GRF actions via the arcuate nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vaccarino
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Taube
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009020:Morphine; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone