Excitotoxic lesions of the lateral parabrachial nucleus do not prevent cholecystokinin-induced suppression of milk intake in rats.

We examined the effect of lateral (visceral) and medial (gustatory) parabrachial nucleus (PBN) lesions on the suppression of milk intake induced with cholecystokinin (CCK) in 24 h food-deprived rats. Irrespective of CCK dose, each type of PBN lesion significantly elevated the consumption of milk. Neither medial nor lateral PBN lesions had any discernible influence on the anorectic action of CCK, however. In combination with the results from a previous study using the same rats (Brain Res. 894 (2001) 288), the present results support the view that the role of the lateral PBN in CCK-induced anorexia depends on the nature of the food used at test.