BETA-CASOMORPHINS STIMULATE AND ENTEROSTATIN INHIBITS THE INTAKE OF DIETARY-FAT IN RATS

The effects of beta-casomorphins 1-7, 1-5 and 1-4 on food intake of ra ts adapted to either a high fat (HF) or high carbohydrate (HC) diet ha ve been studied and compared to the effects of enterostatin. Intracere broventricular (icv) beta-casomorphin(1-7) (beta-CM1-7) stimulated int ake of HF diet in overnight fasted rats, but beta-CM1-5 and beta-CM1-4 were ineffective. Peripheral injection of beta-CM1-7 also increased t he intake of a high fat diet, but reduced the intake of HC diet in sat iated rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) beta-CM1-7 caused a dose-dep endent increase in the intake of HF diet, but a dose-dependent inhibit ion of HC ingestion in satiated rats. Enterostatin (ICV) inhibited the beta-CM1-7 stimulation of HF intake, as did the general opioid antago nist naloxone. Ligand binding studies with [H-3-pro] enterostatin iden tified on low affinity binding site (Kd 100nM) on a crude brain membra ne preparation. This binding was displaced by beta-CM1-7, beta-CM1-5 a nd beta-CM1-4. These data suggest that at high doses enterostatin and beta-CM1-7 may interact with the same low affinity receptor to modulat e intake of dietary fat. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.