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.

  • Short Communication
  • Published:

The effects of the selective serotonin reuptake-inhibitor fluvoxamine on body weight in Zucker rats are mediated by corticotropin-releasing hormone

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 1566–1569 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Brain serotonin plays a crucial role in the regulation of food intake and body weight homeostasis. Previous data suggest an interaction with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). To further examine the interaction between these neurotransmitters, the selective serotonin reuptake-inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine was given intraperitoneally in fa/fa Zucker rats with and without the CRH-receptor-antagonist α-helical CRH administered intracerebroventriculary (i.c.v.). The saline treated animals gained weight. Fluvoxamine led to a significant weight loss while not affecting food intake. Furthermore, insulin levels in this animal model were reduced following fluvoxamine administration. These effects were antagonized by α-helical CRH and are thus most likely mediated via CRH or CRH-like peptides.

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

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leibowitz SF . Behavioral studies of the hypothalamus. In: Morgane PJ, Panksepp J (eds). Handbook of the hypothalamus Vol 1, Part A: Marcel Dekker: New York 1980 299–437.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Leibowitz SF, Brown LL . Brain neurotransmitters and appetite regulation Psychopharmac Bull 1980 21: 412–418.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jordan S, Kramer GL, Zukas PK, Moeller M, Petty F . In vivo biogenic amine efflux in medial prefrontal cortex with imipramine, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine Synapse 1994 18: 294–297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Laflamme N, Bovetto S, Richard D, Rivest S . Effect of dexfenfluramine on the transcriptional activation of CRF and its type 1 receptor within the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus Br J Pharmac 1996 117: 1021–1034.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bovetto S, Rouillard C, Richard D . Role of CRF in the effects of 5-HT-receptor agonists on food intake and metabolic rate Am J Physiol 1996 271: R1231–1238.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kamradt MC, Van de Kar LD, Gray TS . D-fenfluramine induces serotonin-mediated Fos expression in corticotropin-releasing factor and oxytocin neurons of the hypothalamus, and serotonin-independent fos expression in enkephalin and neurotensin neurons of the amygdala Neurosience 1999 90: 851–858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hotta M, Shibasaki T, Yamauchi N, Ohno H, Benoit R, Ling N, Demura H . The effects of chronic central administration of corticotropin-releasing factor on food intake, body weight, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical hormones Life Sci 1991 48: 1483–1491.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rohner-Jeanrenaud F, Walker CD, Greco-Perotto R, Jeanrenaud B . Central corticotropin-releasing factor administration prevents the excessive body weight gain of genetically obese (fa/fa) rats Endocrinology 1989 124: 733–739.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Egawa M, Yoshimatsu H, Bray GA . Central regulation of stress responses: regulation of the autonomic nervous system and visceral function by corticotropin releasing factor-41 Am J Physiol 1991 260: R328–R334.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Richard D, Rivest R, Naimi N, Timofeeva E, Rivest S . Expression of corticotropin-releasing factor and its receptors in the brain of lean and obese Zucker rats Endocrinology 1996 137: 4786–4795.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rohner-Jeanrenaud F, Hochstrasser AC, Jeanrenaud B . Hyperinsulinemia of preobese and obese fa/fa rats is partly vagus nerve mediated Am J Physiol 1983 244: E317–E322.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Krahn DD, Gosnell BA, Grace M, Levine AS . CRF antagonist partially reverses CRF- and stress-induced effects on feeding Brain Res Bull 1986 17: 285–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Paxinos G, Watson C . The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates Academic Press: San Diego, CA 1986

  14. Schulz C, Lehnert H . Activation of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus by corticotropin-releasing factor—a microdialysis study Neuroendocrinology 1996 63: 454–458.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Brown MR, Gray TS, Fisher LA . Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor antagonist: effects on the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular function Regul Pept 1986 16: 321–329.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Heinrichs SC, Pich EM, Miczek KA, Britton KT, Koob GF . Corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist reduces emotionality in socially defeated rats via direct neurotropic action Brain Res 1992 581: 190–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lehnert H, Schulz C, Dieterich K . Physiological and neurochemical and aspects of corticotropin-releasing factor actions in the brain: the role of the locus coeruleus Neurochem Res 1998 23: 1039–1052.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Krahn DD, Gosnell BA, Grace M, Levine AS . CRF antagonist partially reverses CRF- and stress-induced effects on feeding Brain Res Bull 1986 17: 285–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rothwell NJ & Lee FR . Thermogenesis, brown adipose tissue and dexfenfluramine in animal studies Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1992 16: (Suppl 3): S67–S71.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Egawa M, Yoshimatsu H, Bray GA . Preoptic area injection of corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulates sympathetic activity Am J Physiol 1990 259: R799–R806.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Fluvoxamine was kindly provided by Pharmacia & Upjohn, Sweden. The experimental protocols for animals and their care were in accordance with the German law and were approved by the committee on animal care. All experiments met the highest standards of humane animal care.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany

    I Wieczorek, C Schulz & H Lehnert

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany

    H Jarry

Authors
  1. I Wieczorek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C Schulz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H Jarry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H Lehnert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H Lehnert.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wieczorek, I., Schulz, C., Jarry, H. et al. The effects of the selective serotonin reuptake-inhibitor fluvoxamine on body weight in Zucker rats are mediated by corticotropin-releasing hormone. Int J Obes 25, 1566–1569 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801729

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801729

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links