Blockade of GABA(A) receptors in the medial ventral pallidum elicits feeding in satiated rats

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing fibers from the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) terminate in the medial ventral pallidum (VPm) and neurons i n the VPm project to the lateral hypothalamus (LH). Therefore, the VPm is a natomically interposed between the AcbSh and LH, two functionally related b rain regions that mediate food intake. The present study demonstrates that blockade of GABA(A) receptors in the VPm by local administration of bicucul line greatly increases food intake in satiated rats. The data suggest that an AcbSh-VPm-LH circuit may be involved in the control of feeding behavior. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.