Abstract #2140

Davies K, Stark J, Williams S, Luckman S, McKie S

We are investigating animal fMRI as a tool in discovering new appetite pathways to help develop anti-obesity agents. Here we investigated whether high field fMRI could detect receptor modulation by specific serotonin (5-HT1B and 5-HT2C) receptor antagonists, after stimulation by the anorexigenic mixed 5-HT receptor agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) in the rat. Animals received either vehicle or mCPP, and a pre-treatment of receptor antagonist or its vehicle. Data were analysed in SPM2 by 1-way ANOVA followed by F tests. The results showed distinct cancellation of mCPP-induced activity by the 2C receptor antagonist. However the 1B antagonist had little effect.