GALANIN ANTAGONISTS BLOCK GALANIN-INDUCED FEEDING IN THE HYPOTHALAMUSAND AMYGDALA OF THE RAT

Galanin significantly increased food intake when microinjected into th e region of the central nucleus of the amygdala as well as into the pa raventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. In the amygdala this effect was specific to feeding; no change in grooming, resting, or other beh aviour was observed after galanin treatment. These results provide evi dence that the amygdala may be an important site in the mediation of g alanin-induced feeding. The galanin receptor antagonists, C7 and M40, antagonized galanin-induced feeding, while having no effect alone on f ood consumption in free-feeding rats. These new galanin receptor antag onists provide useful tools for further investigating the role of endo genous galanin in the regulation of feeding.