Evidence that systemically administered salbutamol reduces food intake in rats by acting on central beta-adrenergic sites.

Salbutamol was found to reduce food intake in a dose-related manner. The effect was prevented by the beta-adrenolytic drugs d,1-propranolol and d,1-alprenolol. In contrast, phentolamine, penfluridol and metergoline, which block alpha-adrenergic, dopamine and serotonin receptors respectively, or bilateral lesions of the ventral noradrenergic bundles were not able to counteract salbutamol's effect. The reduction of food intake induced by salbutamol was prevented by intracerebroventricular administration of d,1-propranolol. In addition, salbutamol was found to effectively reduce the apparent motivation for food as revealed by its effect on food-rewarded runaway behaviour. This effect was also counteracted by d,1-propranolol pretreatment. The findings indicate that food intake may be reduced by peripheral administration of salbutamol and that the effect is mediated by stimulation of central beta-adrenergic sites.