Sustained Intracerebroventricular Infusion of Brain Fuels Reduces Body Weight and Food Intake in Rats

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 212; no. 4490; pp. 81 - 83
• Main Authors: Davis, John D., Wirtshafter, David, Asin, Karen E., Brief, Deborah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Association for the Advancement of Science 03.04.1981
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; Animals; Ants; Appetite Regulation - drug effects; Body weight; Body Weight - drug effects; Brain - drug effects; Brain - physiology; Circadian Rhythm; Drinking - drug effects; Eating - drug effects; Food intake; Glucose - pharmacology; Glycerol - pharmacology; Hydroxybutyrates - administration & dosage; Hydroxybutyrates - pharmacology; Hypothalamus - drug effects; Injections, Intraventricular; Insect behavior; Insect colonies; Insect reproduction; Male; Pumps; Rats; Social insects; Weight loss; Worker insects
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.7193909

Long-term infusion of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and glycerol into the third ventricle of the rat brain caused a stabilization of body weight at a lower than normal level. Among the glucose- and glycerol-treated animals this weight loss was caused in part by temporary hypophagia. Among the animals treated with β-hydroxybutyrate the weight loss was unaccompanied by a reduction in food intake. The results are consistent with the view that the systems controlling food intake and body weight are sensitive to the availability of brain fuels. They are not consistent, however, with the view that these control systems monitor calories independently of their source.