EN
The consequences of selective activation of brain somatostatin receptor-2 (sst2) were assessed using the sst2 agonist, des-AA1,4-6,11-13-[DPhe2,Aph7(Cbm),DTrP8]-Cbm-SST-Thr-NH2. Food intake (FI) was monitored in ad libitum fed rats chronically implanted with an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannula. The sst2 agonist injected i.c.v. at 0.1 and 1 µg/rat dose-dependently increased light phase FI from 2 to 6 hours post injection (2.3±0.5 and 7.5±1.2 respectively vs. vehicle: 0.2±0.2 g/300 g bw, P<0.001). Peptide action was reversed by i.c.v. injection of the sst2 antagonist, des-AA1,4-6,11-13-[pNO2-Phe2,DCys3,Tyr7,DAph(Cbm)8]-SST-2Nal-NH2 and not reproduced by intraperitoneal injection (30 µg/rat). The sst2 antagonist alone i.c.v. significantly decreased the cumulative 14-hours dark phase FI by 29.5%. Other behaviors, namely grooming, drinking and locomotor activity were also increased by the sst2 agonist (1 µg/rat, i.c.v.) as monitored during the 2nd hour post injection while gastric emptying of solid food was unaltered. Rectal temperature rose 1 hour after the sst2 agonist (1 µg/rat, i.c.v.) with a maximal response maintained from 1 to 4 hours post injection. These data show that selective activation of the brain sst2 receptor induces a feeding response in the light phase not associated with changes in gastric emptying. The food intake reduction following sst2 receptor blockade suggests a role of this receptor in the orexigenic drive during the dark phase.