One of the simplest screens for measuring the anti-obesity potential of a novel drug is to evaluate its effects on food intake following acute administration.

Key features of acute feeding studies are:

• Male lean rats or mice (singly housed)
• Drugs administered by various routes, eg po, sc, ip
• Mice acclimatised to palatable wet mash (4 h/day). Drugs given 60 min before mash. Food intake normally measured over 1, 2 and 4 h
• Rats maintained under reverse-phase lighting with free access to normal, powdered rat chow. Drugs given at onset of dark period. Food intake normally measured for up to 24 h
• Determination of ED50 values for inhibition of food intake
• Blood sampling for pharmacokinetic analysis (at the end of studies or from satellite groups of animals)

Acute feeding studies in mice

 

Acute feeding studies in rats

Acute feeding studies can be extended by giving drugs repeatedly for up to 7 days if a delayed onset of action is suspected.