Pharmacological characterisation of the thermogenic effect of bupropion.

The pharmacological mechanism of bupropion's thermogenic effect has been investigated in female Wistar rats by measuring oxygen consumption at thermoneutrality (29 degrees C). Bupropion (30 mg/kg) rapidly increased oxygen consumption (VO2) with a maximum effect at 30 min, and VO2 remained elevated throughout the 4-h experimental period. The nonselective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT or serotonin) receptor antagonist, metergoline (1 mg/kg), and the alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (1 mg/kg), had no effect on the VO2 response to bupropion, whereas the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, RS79948 [(8aR, 12aS, 13aS)-5,8,8a,9,10,11,12,12a,13,13a-decahydro-3-methoxy-12-(ethylsulphonyl)-6H-isoquino[2,1-g][1,6]-naphthyridine hydrochloride] (1 mg/kg), potentiated the response.

Triiodothyronine stimulates food intake via the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus independent of changes in energy expenditure.

Increased food intake is characteristic of hyperthyroidism, although this is presumed to compensate for a state of negative energy balance. However, here we show that the thyroid hormone T(3) directly stimulates feeding at the level of the hypothalamus. Peripheral administration of T(3) doubled food intake in ad libitum-fed rats over 2 h and induced expression of the immediate early gene, early growth response-1, in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN), whereas maintaining plasma-free T(3) levels within the normal range.

Comparison of the thermogenic and hypophagic effects of sibutramine's metabolite 2 and other monoamine reuptake inhibitors.

The thermogenic and hypophagic effects of sibutramine's metabolite (metabolite 2), a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, were investigated in rats and compared with duloxetine and bupropion. Metabolite 2 increased colonic temperature for 2.5-4.