EFFECT OF DEXFENFLURAMINE ON METABOLIC AND NEUROCHEMICAL MEASURES IN RESTRAINT-STRESSED OB OB MICE/

Genetically obese (ob/ob) and lean C57BL/6J mice were subjected to 1 h acute restraint stress, and the effects on plasma glucose and cortico sterone, and brain amines, were assessed relative to nonrestrained gro ups. Some mice were treated with dexfenfluramine (DFEN) prior to restr aint. Compared with their lean counterparts, ob/ob mice had elevated b asal plasma levels of both glucose and corticosterone. Both lean and o b/ob showed comparable absolute restraint-induced increments in these measures, but the fractional increase was much smaller in ob/ob. Metab olism of NE, DA and 5-HT was also assessed from the ratio of the metab olite-to-amine in various brain regions. Obese mice had smaller restra int-related increases in monoamine metabolism than lean their counterp arts. Acute DFEN increased corticosterone, but tended to reduce the re straint-induced elevations in glucose and monoamine metabolism.