Corticosterone facilitation of inhibition of fat intake by enterostatin (Val-Pro-Asp-Pro-Arg).

Enterostatin or Val-Pro-Asp-Pro-Arg (VPDPR) is the amino-terminal pentapeptide of procolipase; VPDPR is generated during tryptic activation of procolipase to lipase. In rodents, exogenous VPDPR has been shown to cause a selective decrement in fat appetite. To understand the mechanism(s) underlying the action of this peptide, we have studied the effects of corticosterone, an adrenal hormone known to modulate caloric intake, on VPDPR-mediated inhibition of appetite. The results of this study show a significant increase in the inhibition of total caloric intake by 250 micrograms/kg VPDPR following corticosterone treatment (control, 2.3%; corticosterone treated, 22.7%). Furthermore, the decrement in the caloric intake in corticosterone-treated rats was exclusively due to the loss of fat intake.