β-Phenylethylamine and Amphetamine Compared in Tests of Anorexia and Place-Preference Conditioning

Abstract

Adult, male non-deprived rats were accustomed to eating a highly-palatable diet in a 30 min period. Administration of β-phenylethylamine (PE) immediately before the feeding test produced a dose-related (3–30 mg/kg, i.p.) reduction in intake over the first 15 min. A significant anorectic effect was found following 10 and 30 mg/kg of PE. The effect of PE was short-lived, since over the complete 30 min, the reduction in the consumption of the diet was then considerably attenuated. Both d-and l-amphetamine (AMPH) produced dose-related anorectic effects in the same test, and 30 min intake was significantly reduced after 0.3 mg/kg d-AMPH and 1.0 mg/kg l-AMPH. Comparisons with other data show that the anorectic action of PE can be distinguished from its hypodipsic effect, its reinforcing effect as determined in the conditioned place-preference test, and from its ability to induce behavioural stereotypy. The data indicate, therefore, a relatively selective behavioural effect of PE to reduce the consumption of a palatable diet.