Interaction between repeated restraint stress and concomitant midazolam administration on sweet food ingestion in rats

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research

P.p. Silveira²  M.h. Xavier²  F.h. Souza¹  L.p. Manoli²  R.m. Rosat¹  M.b.c. Ferreira¹  C. Dalmaz² 

[1] ,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde Departamento de Bioquímica

关键词: feeding behavior;    chronic stress;    benzodiazepines;    midazolam;    sweet taste;    rats;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-879X2000001100013

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Emotional changes can influence feeding behavior. Previous studies have shown that chronically stressed animals present increased ingestion of sweet food, an effect reversed by a single dose of diazepam administered before testing the animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of animals chronically treated with midazolam and/or submitted to repeated restraint stress upon the ingestion of sweet food. Male adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups: controls and exposed to restraint 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 40 days. Both groups were subdivided into two other groups treated or not with midazolam (0.06 mg/ml in their drinking water during the 40-day treatment). The animals were placed in a lighted area in the presence of 10 pellets of sweet food (Froot loops®). The number of ingested pellets was measured during a period of 3 min, in the presence or absence of fasting. The group chronically treated with midazolam alone presented increased ingestion when compared to control animals (control group: 2.0 ± 0.44 pellets and midazolam group: 3.60 ± 0.57 pellets). The group submitted to restraint stress presented an increased ingestion compared to controls (control group: 2.0 ± 0.44 pellets and stressed group: 4.18 ± 0.58 pellets). Chronically administered midazolam reduced the ingestion in stressed animals (stressed/water group: 4.18 ± 0.58 pellets; stressed/midazolam group: 3.2 ± 0.49 pellets). Thus, repeated stress increases appetite for sweet food independently of hunger and chronic administration of midazolam can decrease this behavioral effect.

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