The hypophagic effect of restraint stress in rats can be mediated by 5-HT2 receptors in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Ritanserin (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and ketanserin (2.5 mg/kg), two antagonists with high affinity for 5-HT2 receptors, attenuated restraint stress-induced hypophagia in rats. Two injections of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist cinanserin (30 nmol/0.5 microliter) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus completely reversed the effect of stress on food intake. (+/-)Cyanopindolol (3 and 8 mg/kg), an antagonist at 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors, had no effect whereas 8-hydroxy-2-di-n-propylamino)tetralin (30-300 micrograms/kg), an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, significantly attenuated the hypophagia. The results suggest that restraint stress-induced hypophagia is mediated by 5-HT2 receptors in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The potential utility of this model in anorexia nervosa is discussed.