Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

A peripheral locus for amphetamine anorexia

Nature volume 297, pages 148–150 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

The anorexic action of amphetamine is thought to be mediated by central dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems1–4. However, some of its sympathomimetic effects can be attenuated by denervation5 or by depletion of peripheral noradrenaline6,7. This led us to consider the possibility that a component of amphetamine anorexia might be due to excitation of the sympathetic innervation of the viscera. To test this, the amphetamine dose–response curves of free-feeding rats with visceral sympathetic denervation by coeliac ganglionectomy (GAN) were compared with those of sham-operated controls (SHM). We report here that ganglionectomized rats were protected from the anorexic effects of low doses of amphetamine (0.2 or 0.4 mg per kg interaperitoneal, i.p.). We suggest that the anorexia might result from enhanced hepatic glycogenolysis8, and the subsequent stimulation of hepatic metabolic receptors that inhibit feeding9.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cole, S. O. Psychol. Bull. 79, 13–20 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Harris, S. C., Ivy, A. C. & Searle, L. M. J. Am. med. Ass. 134, 1468–1475 (1947).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Nathanson, M. H. J. Am. med. Ass. 108, 528–531 (1937).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Leibowitz, S. F. Brain Res. 98, 529–545 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lockett, M. F. Br. J. Pharmac. 5, 485–496 (1950).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Burn, J. H. & Rand, M. J. J. Physiol., Lond. 144, 314–336 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Muscholl, E. A. Rev. Pharmac. 6, 107–128 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Russek, M. & Stevenson, J. A. F. Physiol. Behav. 8, 245–249 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Russek, M. Nature 197, 79–80 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lambert, R. Surgery of the Digestive System in the Rat, 484 (Charles Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hodge, G. K. & Butcher, L. L. Pharmac. Biochem. Behav. 10, 695–705 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Williams, P. L. & Warwick, R. Functional Neuroanatomy of Man, 1068–1083 (Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Russek, M., Lora-Vilchis, M. C. & Islas-Chaires, M. Physiol. Behav. 24, 157–161 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Novin, D., Vanderweele, D. A. & Rezek, M. Science 181, 858–860 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Novin, D., Sanderson, J. & Gonzalez, M. Physiol. Behav. 22, 107–113 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tordoff, M. G., Novin, D. & Russek, M. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 96, 361–375 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Vanderweele, D. A., Geiselman, P. J. & Novin, D. Physiol. Behav. 23, 155–158 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shimazu, T. & Fukuda, A. Science 150, 1607–1608 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Mogenson, G. J. Physiol. Behav. 3, 133–136 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Russek, M. & Bruni, E. Ann. Inst. Univ. Auton. Mexico, 41, Ser. Biol. Exp. 1, 17–24 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Blundell, J. E. & Burridge, S. L. in The Treatment of Obesity (ed. Munro, J. F.) 53–83 (University Park Press, Baltimore, 1979).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Franklin, K. B. J. & Herberg, L. J. Neuropharmacology 16, 45–46 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Frey, H.-H. & Schulz, R. Biochem. Pharmac. 22, 3041–3049 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Schmitt, H. J. Pharmac. Paris 4, 285–294 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

    Michael G. Tordoff, Jill Hopfenbeck, Larry L. Butcher & Donald Novin

Authors
  1. Michael G. Tordoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jill Hopfenbeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Larry L. Butcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Donald Novin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tordoff, M., Hopfenbeck, J., Butcher, L. et al. A peripheral locus for amphetamine anorexia. Nature 297, 148–150 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/297148a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/297148a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing