Effects of exendin in rats trained to discriminate between 22 and 2 hr food deprivation

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2010-04, Vol.24 (S1), p.lb457-lb457
• Main Authors: Jewett, David C., Dunbar, Andrew, Faile, Shannon, Green, Ryan, Bauer, Dana, Bolek, Barbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.lb457

Previous research had demonstrated that GLP‐1 agonists decrease food intake and energy expenditure. Previously we have found that drugs that alter energy expenditure also alter the discriminative stimulus effects of 22 hr food deprivation in rats. We tested the effects of exendin‐4, a GLP‐1 agonist, in rats trained to discriminate 22 hr food deprivation from 2 hr food deprivation in a two‐lever, operant choice task. After rats acquired the discrimination, subjects were food restricted for 22 hr and administered saline or exendin‐4 (0.1–0.56 mcg/kg, i.p.). Thirty min later, the discriminative stimulus effects were assessed. Exendin‐4 did not alter the discriminative stimulus effects of 22 hr food deprivation. A larger dose (1.0 mcg/kg) eliminated responding and significantly decreased food intake. While exendin‐4 decreases intake and rate of responding, exendin‐4 did not alter the “hunger” discrimination.