Flibanserin, a mixed 5-HT¦1¦A agonist /5-HT¦2¦A antagonist, decreases palatable food intake in operant and non-operant feeding paradigms in rats

grantor: University of TorontoThe present research examined the effects of flibanserin, a serotonin (5-HT)1A agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist, in operant and non-operant models of sucrose feeding in rats. Five days of intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of filbanserin 5 mg/kg produced a significant reduction in the free-intake of sucrose. In operant experiments where rats were required to lever press for sucrose on a progressive ratio schedule, acute flibanserin 15 mg/kg, as well as acute and repeated (13-day) fluoxetine 10 mg/kg, produced a significant reduction in the break point for sucrose reinforcement. Neither flibanserin 5 mg/kg nor fluoxetine 10 mg/kg produced profound effects on locomotor activity. The finding of decreased sucrose intake with flibanserin is consistent with the widely accepted view that enhanced serotonin neurotransmission causes a reduction in food intake and, given flibanserin's mechanism of action, provides preliminary evidence that post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors are involved in mediating this hypophagic effect.M.Sc