Effect of neuropeptide Y antagonist BMS193885 on overeating and emotional responses induced by social isolation in rats

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress of social isolation is associated with an increased risk of mental illness, such as atypical depression, and is usually accompanied by hyperphagia and weight gain. We have previously shown that the NPY antagonist Y1R BMS193885 reduces the conditioned place preference of ethanol. The involvement of NPY receptors in non-chemical forms of addiction is assumed. AIM: Was to analyze the effects of NPY Y1R BMS193885 on emotional responses and elements of bindge eating in rats caused by rearing in social isolation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the tests “open field”, “elevated plus maze”, Porsolt’s forced swimming test, “resident intruder” test and method of conditioned eating test in well-fed rats. RESULTS: The level of depression, negative emotionality and locomotor activity increased in rats reared in isolation. After intranasal administration of BMS193885 high locomotor activity was maintained, but investigating activity increased in isolated rats. Isolated animals showed an increase in body weight at the 6th week of life. By to the 9th week, the body weight of the isolated rats was significantly higher than in animals reared in the community ( р ≤ 0.05). Intranasal administration of 20 μg BMS193885 for 1 week caused a decrease in feed intake in both groups of animals ( р ≤ 0.05). Isolated rats began to consume the same amount of food as animals reared in the community after administration of 0.9% NaCl solution. At the same time, elements of bindge eating were observed in the study of the conditioned food test in satiated isolated rats, which did not appear after 1 week of intranasal administration of 20 μg of BMS193885. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained prove that rats reared in isolation can be considered as a potential model for binge eating, the basis for metabolic imbalance caused by individual housing in rodents. These considerations are of particular relevance when evaluating the effectiveness of drugs, diet, or other interventions for metabolic health and depressive disorders.