Cholecystokinin antagonism by benzodiazepines in the food intake in mice.

Three benzodiazepines, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and flurazepam, were demonstrated to reverse the suppressed food intake in mice in response to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8). CCK8 (200 ng) was administered intracisternally, and the benzodiazepines intraperitoneally at doses of 0.1 to 1 mg/kg. The three benzodiazepines slightly depressed the feeding by themselves, but significantly reversed the satiety effects of CCK8. Naloxone (2 mg/kg) decreased the food intake but failed to reverse the CCK8 satiety action. The benzodiazepines were considered to antagonize the satiety action of CCK8 in the central nervous system through unknown mechanisms.