Feeding and drinking interactions after acute butyrophenone administration

The effects on feeding and drinking of various doses of droperidol, haloperidol and spiroperidol were studied in a number of paradigms. All three butyrophenones produced generally similar effects. After food deprivation, feeding was slightly increased at low doses but was decreased at the higher doses; the concomitant postprandial drinking was attenuated at all doses. Desalivate rats showed a marked attenuation of feeding (and prandial drinking) at low doses, but when wet mash was given instead of pellets and water a normal dose-response relationship was obtained. After water deprivation drinking was attenuated at all doses, and when food was also available during the drinking test the food intake was decreased in proportion to the drinking. Drinking was blocked more when food was present than in its absence. Insulin and 2-deoxyglucose induced feeding in sated rats was attenuated but not abolished by haloperidol. The findings are discussed relative to the role of activation and brain catecholamines in feeding and drinking.