ANORECTIC ACTIVITY OF PROSTAGLANDIN PRECURSORS

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Abstract
1 Intraperitoneal and intragastric (i.g.) administration of prostaglandin precursors arachidonic (2 mg, 15 mg/kg, i.p.; 30 mg/kg, i.g.), linolenic (100 mg/kg, i.p.; 200 mg/kg, i.g.) and linoleic (15, 100 mg/kg, i.p.; 100 mg/kg, i.g.) acids to 22 h food‐deprived rats inhibits food intake.2 This anorexia is similar to that induced by prostaglandin F2α (1 mg/kg, i.p.).3 At anorectic doses these fatty acids do not cause pyrexia, in fact arachidonic acid causes hypothermia.4 Prior treatment with indomethacin (15 mg/kg) and paracetamol (50 mg/kg) specifically reverses the anorexia and the behavioural satiety induced by the three fatty acids, while not affecting prostaglandin F2α‐induced suppression of food intake.5 Results of the present experiments suggest that both physiological and pharmacological modification of appetite could be brought about through an effect on prostaglandin generating systems.