Chronic antidepressant drug regimes and food and water intake in rats

Food and water consumption were measured in rats prior to and during a course of antidepressant drug administration. Desmethylimipramine (DMI, 10 mg/kg/day), clorgyline (1.0 mg/kg/day) or saline were injected IP for 30 days. Food and water intake in the DMI- and clorgyline-treated rats was initially and significantly decreased but progressively returned towards pretreatment levels over the course of the drug administration. The effects of these antidepressant drug treatments on food and water intake appeared to consist of two components: (a) a rapid suppressive effect, possibly associated with an acute central action of these drugs (and perhaps a slight initial stress effect related to the drug administration) and (b) an adaptive effect over the course of the treatment which may involve changes in monoaminergic neurotransmitters or receptor status in those brain regions associated with feeding behavior. The similarities of the results of these treatments and those seen with chronic stress are discussed.