Suppression of feeding-evoked dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens by the blockade of P(2) purinoceptors

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.