Long-term imipramine treatment differentially affects fenfluramine-induced suppression of food intake and locomotor activity

Abstract

Administration of fenfluramine to rats produced decreases in one-hour food intake and locomotor activity. Short-term (2–6 days) or long-term (21–25 days) treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine, did not affect daily food intake, body weight gain or baseline locomotor activity when compared to saline treatment. However, long-term but not short-term imipramine treatment attenuated fenfluramine-induced decreases in one-hour food intake. On the other hand, neither short-term nor long-term imipramine treatment affected fenfluramine-induced decreases in locomotor activity. These findings demonstrate a differential effect of long-term imipramine treatment on fenfluramine-induced suppression of food intake and locomotor activity.