Effects of the non-amphetaminergic anorexiant, mazindol, on neuronal activity and hypothalamic control of gastric acid secretion in rats.

The effects of mazindol (MZD), a non-amphetaminergic anorectic agent, on the peripheral and central control of gastric acid secretion was investigated in rats. Gastric acid secretion induced by direct application of the muscarinic cholinergic agonist, carpronium, on parietal oxyntic cells was not affected by MZD. Secretion induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) was markedly suppressed by intra-hypothalamic or systemic (i.v.) administration of MZD; that induced by insulin was suppressed by systemic MZD. Electrophoretic application of MZD inhibited the neuronal activity of gastric and non-gastric type glucose sensitive neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LHA), and excited glucoreceptor neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). The results suggest that previous reports of feeding suppression by MZD could be explained by its effects directly on hypothalamic feeding control neurons. This is consistent with the suggestion that it might be effective in the treatment of obesity.