ABSTRACT
Several factors such as dopamine affect food intake and appetite. Release of dopamine from dopaminergic neurons is associated with ascorbic acid [AA]. The nucleus accumbens via direct and indirect anatomical connections with the lateral hypothalamus is effective in control of feeding behavior. Based on these observations, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of central injection of ascorbic acid into the nucleus accumbens shell on the food intake and body weight of adult male rats. Thirty five adult male rats were divided into five groups as follows [n=7 each]: Control, sham [injected vehicle of AA], and Ascorbic Acid [AA] groups [10, 50, and 250 micro g/rat]. Rats were anaesthetized and cannulas were implanted bilaterally in the nucleus accumbens shell [AP= 1.7 mm, LA= +/- 0.8 mm from bregma, DV=5.6 mm from skull surface]. After one week recovery period, three different doses of ascorbic acid [1 microl/day] were injected into the three separate groups for 4 days. Food intakes were measured every 24 hours and weight changes were determined after 4 days. Doses of ascorbic acid [10, 50, and 250 1g/rat] decreased food intake significantly [p<0.01]. Although the partial decrease was observed in the body weight, but the decrease was not significant in any of the different doses groups. Based on our results, it seems that ascorbic acid in the nucleus accumbens shell, probably via hunger and the satiety control centers in the hypothalamus, regulates body weight and food intake.