Effects of benzodiazepines and naloxone on food intake and food preference in the rat

Abstract

After four days of administration, chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) increased the weight gain of rats on ad libitum food and water, whereas chlordiazepoxide (7·5 mg/kg) and lorazepam (0·25 and 0·5 mg/kg) decreased it. After a period of food deprivation, chlordiazepoxide (7·5 mg/kg) and lorazepam (0·5 mg/kg) increased food consumption after ½, 2 and 6 h. In a food preference test chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) enhanced consumption of chocolate chips, whereas lorazepam (0·25 and 0·5 mg/kg) enhanced consumption of familiar chow. Chlordiazepoxide (5 and 7·5 mg/kg) enhanced consumption of unfamiliar chow, whether this was preferred or not, whereas lorazepam (0·25 and 0·5 mg/kg) enhanced consumption of familiar chow. Naloxone (4 mg/kg) reduced food intake in the first ½ h after injection and reduced consumption of unfamiliar chow. Naloxone (2 and 4 mg/kg) abolished consumption of chocolate chips in the food preference test.