THE EFFECT OF FENFLURAMINE ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF FEEDING AND DRINKING IN THE RAT

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
1 The effects of three doses of fenfluramine on feeding and drinking in the rat were examined. 2 Feeding and drinking were subdivided into meals and bouts, and the changes in feeding/drinking were expressed in terms of meal/bout frequency, meal/bout size, meal/bout length, and eating/drinking rate. 3 The changes in these parameters were examined over different time periods after the injection. 4 Significant changes in the distribution of inter-response intervals within meals were found in time period 1 with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg doses of fenfluramine. Videotape and computer analysis showed that the changes in inter-response interval histograms differed significantly from those seen in normal animals approaching satiety. Drinking parameters also changed. 5 Compensatory increases in feeding were observed in time period 4 with the 10 mg/kg dose. 6 The difficulties in designing and interpreting experiments in feeding are discussed, and the action of fenfluramine as an anorectic drug is considered.