An orexigenic role for μ-opioid receptors in the lateral parabrachial nucleus

The pontine parabrachial nucleus (PBN) has been implicated in regulating ingestion and contains opioids that promote feeding elsewhere in the brain. We tested the actions of the selective mu-opioid receptor (mu-OR) agonist [D-Ala(2), N-Me-Phe(4), Gly(5)-ol] enkephalin (DAMGO) in the PBN on feeding in male rats with free access to food. Infusing DAMGO (0.5 - 4.0 nmol/0.5 mul) into the lateral parabrachial region ( LPBN) increased food intake. The hyperphagic effect was anatomically specific to infusions within the LPBN, dose and time related, and selective for ingestion of chow compared with (nonnutritive) kaolin. The nonselective opioid antagonist naloxone (0.1 - 10.0 nmol intra-PBN) antagonized DAMGO-induced feeding, with complete blockade by 1.0 nmol and no effect on baseline. The highly selective mu-opioid antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP; 1.0 nmol) also prevented this action of DAMGO, but the kappa-antagonist nor-binaltorphimine did not. Naloxone and CTAP ( 10.0 nmol) decreased intake during scheduled feeding. Thus stimulating mu-ORs in the LPBN increases feeding, whereas antagonizing these sites inhibits feeding. Together, our results implicate mu-ORs in the LPBN in the normal regulation of food intake.