Effects of the Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist, HU 210, on Body Weight and Feeding Behaviour of Rats

Abstract

We have examined the effect of HU 210, a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist, on rat body weight and eating behaviour. HU 210 (25, 50 or 100μ kg−1) sub-chronically administered for four days, produced a dose- and time-dependent loss of body weight. At the highest dose the body weight was not regained by the seventh day after the drug was stopped, remaining markedly below that of vehicle-treated animals. Atchuand sub-chronic treatment of fasted rats with HU 210 (50 and 100μ kg−1) significantly inhibited standard food intake; this anorexic effect was still present seven days after the last injection of 100μ kg−1 HU 210. Fasted rats, familiarized with chocolate and acutely treated with HU 210 at 50 or 100μ kg−1 reduced their standard food but not chocolate consumption in a two-choice condition. The results showed that HU 210 exerted a potent and long-lasting reduction of body weight, and that it produced a disrupting effect on the consumption of standard food, but not of chocolate.