INDUCTION OF FOS-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE RAT HYPOTHALAMUS BY AN ENDOGENOUS FEEDING SUPPRESSANT (2-BUTEN-4-OLIDE)

Central influence of 2-buten-4-olide (2-B4O), an endogenous feeding su ppressant, was studied through immunohistochemical detection of Fos ex pression in the rat hypothalamus. Animals received 2-B4O (100 or 200 m g/kg i.p.) or saline 2 h before perfusion with 4% phosphate-buffered p araformaldehyde. The hypothalamus was removed and cut into vibratome s ections. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that injection of 2-B4O induced Fos-like immunoreactivity significantly in the paraventricula r, dorsomedial and arcuate nuclei and the periventricular and lateral hypothalamic areas. These hypothalamic regions may control feeding und er the influences of endogenous 2-B4O.