Amantadine in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced obesity in rats: behavioral, endocrine and neurochemical correlates.

The efficacy of the antiviral agent Amantadine (AM, 5-100 mg/kg/sc, ip or intrahypothalamically, 12.5-100 micrograms bilaterally) in influencing body weight and food intake in drug-free rats, and in preventing neuroleptic-induced weight gain, was assessed in adult female rats. In drug-free rats, acute administration of systemic AM or directly injected in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) displayed a significant dose-dependent anorectic effect (p < 0.