REFEEDING AFTER 72-HOUR FASTING ALTERS NEUROPEPTIDE-Y AND MONOAMINES IN VARIOUS CEREBRAL AREAS IN THE RAT

1. Monoamine turnover and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels were evaluated i n the CNS of adult male rats either after fasting (72 hr) or refeeding . 2. In the fasted group, an overall increase in NPY levels was observ ed except in the striatum where it was decreased. The serotoninergic t urnover was decreased in the hippocampus, striatum and cortex. 3. Afte r refeeding, NPY decreased in the hypothalamus and cortex but was furt her increased in the hippocampus and decreased in the striatum. The se rotoninergic turnover was still decreased in the hippocampus and corte x. The norepinephrine levels and the dopaminergic turnover increased i n the hippocampus and cortex. 4. No relationship appeared between NPY and monoamine changes suggesting that NPY can act independently in fee ding behavior, and play, in different brain areas, an important role i n its regulation.