Influence of benzodiazepines on body weight and food intake in obese and lean zucker rats

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Blasi, Claudio
Copyright Year	2000
Abstract	1. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system, which is functionally altered in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats, plays an important role in controlling energy balance within the central nervous system. 2. GABA receptors seem to be involved in the dysfunction of the hypothalamic energy homeostasis-controlling mechanisms in these animals due to a genetically-induced defect of the leptin-neuropeptide Y system. 3. To shed further light on the possible role played by the GABA system in the pathogenesis of this rat model, two benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor agonists (diazepam and clonazepam) and one BDZ antagonist (flumazenil) were administered intraperitoneally in obese and lean Zucker rats. 4. Body weight gain was reduced by the BDZ agonists in both phenotypes, and one receptor-agonist (diazepam) lowered insulin concentration in obese rats. In GABA-antagonist-treated obese rats, the daily amount of body weight gain and food intake acquired an oscillatory rhythm similar to that of normal rodents. 5. By demonstrating the role of BDZ receptors, these findings may help clarify the pathophysiology of obesity and insulin resistance in fatty Zucker rats.
Starting Page	561
Ending Page	577
Page Count	17
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1016/S0278-5846(00)00093-2
PubMed reference number	10958151
Journal	Medline
Volume Number	24
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0278584600000932
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584600000932?dgcid=api_sd_search-api-endpoint
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-5846%2800%2900093-2
Journal	Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article