AMYLIN AND FOOD-INTAKE IN MICE - EFFECTS ON MOTIVATION TO EAT AND MECHANISM OF ACTION

Amylin is a hormone produced by the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. A mylin decreased food pellet consumption. Amylin also decreased lever p ressing for milk solution whether or not the mice were prefed. Amylin did not produce a conditioned taste aversion in a two bottle test, whe reas lithium chloride did. In addition, L-arginine, a precursor for ni tric oxide synthesis, was demonstrated to inhibit the ability of amyli n to decrease food intake. Amylin did not alter nitric oxide synthase activity in the fundus of the stomach. These studies demonstrated that amylin inhibits food intake at a higher range of doses than is typica l of anorectic agents such as cholecystokinin. Amylin does not appear to decrease food intake by reducing the release of nitric oxide but ma y affect appetite by modulating serum glucose levels when co-released with insulin. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.