The Role of Orexigenic Neuropeptides in the Ingestion of Sweet-tasting Substances in Rats

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Abstract
Palatability is one of the most important factors that regulate food and fluid intake in animals. Animals usually prefer sweet-tasting substances and consumption often exceeds the need for homeostatic repletion. Recently, new chemical mediators that regulate appetite have been identified; for example, orexins (orexin-A and B), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), agouti-related protein (AgRP), ghrelin and neuropeptideY (NPY) all are known to stimulate feeding and, thus, to function as orexigenic peptides (Inui, 2000; Schwartz et al., 2000). On the other hand, leptin, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), urocortin and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) are feeding-inhibiting or anorexigenic peptides (Inui, 2000; Schwartz et al., 2000). Many peptides are produced in the hypothalamus, and are well studied in terms of feeding, energy homeostasis and obesity. However, little is known about the role of these peptides in palatability-induced ingestion. We therefore investigated the involvement of hypothalamic neuropeptides in palatability-induced ingestion. We also examined the role of orexin-A in gastric functions to elucidate how this peptide increases food intake.

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