Effects of repeated 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration on ingestive, psychological, and 5-HT-related behaviours in the rat.

The effects of repeated treatment with the metabolic stressor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG: 500 mg/kg/day, 7 days) upon some ingestive and psychological behaviours were investigated, and compared with those elicited by repeated immobilization or cold exposure (2 hr/day, 7 days). Because all these stressors affect central serotonergic systems, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviours were also analysed. Both 2-DG administration and immobilization decreased daily food intakes and increased the weight of the adrenals, while all stressors reduced body weight gain. In addition, 2-DG triggered hyperphagia (and reduced body weight loss) throughout the 7 light phases, and hypophagia (and reduced body weight gain) throughout the 7 dark phases. However, the other stressors had only temporary effects during the light phases. These results suggested that immobilized and cold exposed rats, but not 2-DG-treated rats had progressively adapted to their stressors. Furthermore, 2-DG-treated rats exhibited decreased ambulation when placed in the open field, but no change in social interaction. Forepaw treading and flat body posture responses to the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) were not altered by the stressors, but both of them slightly amplified 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia. This change was associated with a decreased head shake response to the 5-HT2A agonist 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) in 2-DG-treated rats, compared with that measured in the other groups. This study opens the possibility that alterations in feeding rhythms has functional consequences on 5-HT2A receptors.