Naloxone's anorectic effect is dependent upon the relative palatability of food

Abstract

It has been suggested that opioids modify food intake by enhancing palatability. In the present series of studies we evaluated the effect of naloxone on food intake of a preferred food (chocolate chip cookies), normal rat chow, and an "aversive" food (high fiber chow). We found that naloxone decreased 18- and 48-h deprivation-induced intake of chocolate chip cookies much more potently than that of chow, when these foods were presented on separate occasions. When these foods were presented concurrently, this difference in naloxone's potency was no longer apparent. When rats were offered high fiber chow, only the 10 mg/kg dose of naloxone decreased intake. In these same rats naloxone significantly decreased normal chow intake at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Thus, naloxone's ability to decrease food intake appears to be dependent upon the palatability of the food.