Acute Feeding Studies
One of the simplest screens for measuring the antiobesity potential of a novel drug is to evaluate its effects on food intake following acute administration. This model may be used as the initial screen for centrally-acting drugs. Experiments are typically carried out in normal lean male rats or mice under conditions where the food intake of control animals is high. At RenaSci, we normally measure food intake in rats under reverse-phase lighting and food intake in mice given palatable mash. Drugs can be given via a variety of routes.
Food (and water) intake is normally measured for up to 24 h after dosing in rats and up to 4 h after dosing in mice acclimatised to wet mash. In some cases, the initial screen may involve repeated daily administration of the novel compound for up to 7 days (if a delayed onset of action is suspected eg MCH1 receptor antagonists). Blood samples can be taken for pharmacokinetic analysis at the end of studies or in satellite groups of animals housed under identical conditions.
