Atropine methyl nitrate inhibits sham feeding in the rat.

Atropine methyl nitrate inhibited sham feeding of a liquid diet in a dose-related manner. Identical doses of atropine methyl nitrate had no effect on sham drinking of water. This differential effect is evidence that the inhibition of sham feeding was not due to peripheral anticholinergic disruption of licking, salivating or swallowing. The results suggest that peripheral blockade of cholinergic receptors of the muscarinic type is a mechanism for eliciting satiety for food in the rat.