A small amount of wheel running facilitates eating in nondeprived rats

Behav Neurosci. 1996 Dec;110(6):1492-5. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.110.6.1492.

Abstract

A high level of dopaminergic activation such as that produced by a high dose of amphetamine suppresses eating, whereas a low level such as that produced by a low dose can have the opposite effect. Like a high dose of amphetamine, a high level of wheel running also suppresses eating. It was hypothesized that this suppression is due to dopaminergic activation produced by wheel running. If so, a relatively small amount of wheel running should produce a low level of dopaminergic activation and thus have the same effect as a low dose of amphetamine: facilitation of eating. In the present experiment, nondeprived rats were allowed to run in a wheel for 30 min before a feeding test. As predicted, a little wheel running facilitated eating in these rats relative to appropriate controls. The present results may be relevant to an understanding of eating disorders in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Food Deprivation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley