Abstract
In order to investigate whether endogenous adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) is involved in the regulation of feeding, the influence of the P
2 receptor antagonist pyridoxalphospate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid (PPADS) infused into the rat nucleus accumbens on 18-h food-deprived feeding was tested. PPADS suppressed the feeding-induced dopamine release and reduced the amount of food consumed as well as the time of feeding. These results indicate that activation of P
2 purinoceptors by endogenous ATP facilitates feeding behaviour and contributes to the feeding-associated dopamine release.