The animal model in food intake regulation: examples from the opioid literature.
Animal models allow us to investigate the basic mechanisms by which food intake is regulated. There are a host of neuroregulators distributed across a complex central network that control eating behavior. The opioid peptides represent one family of such regulators that have been studied extensively in animals. Using anatomical, biochemical and behavioral methods investigators have found that opioids play an important role in reward-related eating. In this brief review we summarize representative animal studies that utilize a variety of experimental techniques to help explain the role of opioids in ingestive behavior.
University of Minnesota, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, 1334 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States. aslevine@umn.edu
Allen S
AS
Levine
D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D009294:Narcotics; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
D009294:Narcotics