Hypothalamic β-Adrenergic “Satiety” System antagonizes an α-Adrenergic “Hunger” System in the Rat

Abstract

THIS communication proposes and tests the hypothesis that in the central nervous system, specifically in the hypothalamus, α and β-receptors function antagonistically in an adrenergic system, to regulate hunger in the rat. More specifically, this antagonistic relationship takes place between a hypothalamic α-adrenergic “hunger” system, which elicits eating behaviour, and a hypothalamic β-adrenergic “satiety” system, which suppresses eating behaviour. Before this research, there has been no evidence for a central β-adrenergic system functioning antagonistically with respect to a central α-adrenergic system.