GALANIN AND THE GALANIN ANTAGONIST M40 DO NOT CHANGE FAT INTAKE IN A FAT-CHOW CHOICE PARADIGM IN RATS

The neuropeptide galanin has been proposed to play a role in the regul ation of fat intake. The purpose of the present investigation was to d etermine if galanin and the galanin receptor antagonist M40 would have selective effects on fat intake in a fat-chow choice paradigm in rats . Rats were adapted to 22-h access to chow alone and 2-h daily access to separate sources of fat and chow in the early dark cycle. Galanin ( 300 pmol, 1 nmol) or M40 (2-500 pmol) was microinjected bilaterally in to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) before the 2- h choice period, and chow and fat intake were measured. M40 had no eff ect on chow or fat intake. Galanin stimulated chow intake and increase d the ratio of chow to fat consumed but had no significant effect on f at intake alone. These results suggest that endogenous galanin in the PVN may not play a primary role in the regulation of fat intake when f at is available in addition to a nutritionally balanced diet.