Abstract
The effect of parenteral clonidine, a central alpha-sympathomimetic agent, on eating and drinking was studied in rats. Small (37.5–75 μg/kg) and large (150–300 μg/kg) doses of clonidine acutely depressed water intake for periods up to 6 hours. The antidispsogenic effect was followed by a delayed increase of fluid intake apparently due to the diuretic effect of the drug in rats, and this was suppressed by nephrectomy. With daily injections for periods up to 3 days large doses depressed both water and food intake. When daily injections were continued for more than 4 days, an appetite-stimulating effect was noted. It was concluded that clonidine primarily depresses water and food intake. The delayed, apparently dipsogenic, effect observed is due to a primary diuretic effect. The appetite-stimulating effect of clonidine observed with chronic treatment may be a primary cerebral effect unmasked when tolerance develops to the (presumably) peripheral, anorectic effect.
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