Orexin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that regulates feeding behavior in ra
ts. Orexin-B has recently been cloned in pigs and was shown to stimulate fo
od intake after intramuscular injection. This study was designed to determi
ne whether intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intravenous injections of orex
in could regulate appetite in sheep. Suffolk wethers were moved to indoor f
acilities, adapted to diets for 6 wk, and trained to stand in stanchions fo
r 3 to 6 h each day for 2 wk before indwelling ICV cannulas were installed.
These sheep were provided water and they consumed feed ad libitum. On the
day before an experiment, each sheep was cannulated in a jugular vein. On t
he day of an experiment, sheep were placed in stanchions and allowed to sta
nd for 1 h before use. Sheep were then monitored over a 2-h control period
before i.v. injection with saline or porcine orexin-B (3 mug/kg BW) or ICV
injection with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), orexin (0.03, 0.3, or
3 mug/kg BW) or in a second experiment with either orexin B (0.03, 0.3, 3 m
ug/kg BW), neuropeptide-Y (NPY; 0.3 mug/kg BW), or orexin plus NPY. Food in
take was monitored for consecutive 2-h periods. The i.v. injections of orex
in did not affect food intake or metabolite or hormone concentrations. In I
CV sheep, orexin increased food intake at 2 (P < 0.04) and at 4 h (P < 0.02
). Food intake was greatest with the 0.3 mug/kg BW dosage of orexin (P < 0.
05). In the first 2 h after injection, orexin had an effect similar to that
of NPY (0.23 kg for orexin and 0.2 kg for NPY). The combination of NPY and
orexin had a greater effect on food intake (to 0.34 kg) than did either or
exin (P < 0.05) or NPY (P < 0.008) alone. Differences were not apparent in
the subsequent 2-h interval. No differences were noted in free fatty acid,
glucose, growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, or insulin concentrations fol
lowing orexin injection. There was an effect of ICV orexin treatment on pla
sma cortisol concentrations (P < 0.002). Cortisol was increased by orexin a
t the 0- to 2-h (P < 0.008) and in the 2- to 4-h (P < 0.009) intervals afte
r orexin injection. These data indicate that central administration of orex
in stimulates feed intake in sheep.