Effects of systemic or intracerebroventricular naloxone injection on basal and 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced ingestive behavior

In order to examine the role and site of action of opiates on both hunger and thirst and food and water intake in rats after short term (3 hr.) food deprivation alone or in combination with 2DG-induced glucoprivic stress, naloxone was given to rats in either the jugular vein or the lateral ventricle. Both basal and 2DG-induced food and water intake were reduced by naloxone injected either peripherally or centrally. Latencies to eat and drink were used as measures of hunger and thirst respectively. Only central injection of naloxone significantly reduced 2DG-induced but not basal hunger. These results suggest a central site of action of naloxone on both food and water intake even if some peripheral effects cannot be totally ruled out. Our findings indicate central nervous system opiate receptor involvement in the hunger response to 2DG-induced glucoprivation. In all other treatment conditions, decreases in food intake cannot be related to reduction of hunger but may be due to potentiation of satiation during opiate receptor blockade.