Abstract
Opioid peptide neurotransmitters stimulate feeding and are involved in mediating the rewarding
aspects of feeding, as well as in energy regulation in the brain. The effects of sucrose diets on opioid peptide
gene expression were measured in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the
rat. Rats were fed a cornstarch-based diet or a low (16.7%), medium (33.4%), or high (50%) sucrose
containing diet for 7 days. Analyses of the ARC and PVN demonstrated that sucrose in the diet had no effect
on mRNA levels of opioid peptides. The lack of an opioid response in the ARC and PVN suggests that
opioids in the ARC and PVN are involved in energy regulation rather than in mediating hedonic aspects of
feeding.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 59-62 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering |
| Volume | 72 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |