Impact of intra-VTA ghrelin on dietary choice.

<p>Impact of acute intra-VTA (ventral tegmental area) injection of ghrelin on total energy intake and dietary choice during (A) 3 hr, (B) 6 hr and (C) 24 hr, in rats (n = 17) that had been <i>ad libitum</i> fed a choice diet comprising normal chow, 1 g sucrose pellets and lard (saturated animal fat) over the previous 14 days. All rats received ghrelin and vehicle solution in a cross over design with one day washout between injections. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.</p

Stability of daily food selection.

<p>Stability of daily (24 hr) food selection in rats (n = 18) offered an <i>ad libitum</i> free choice diet of normal chow, 1 g sucrose pellets and lard (a saturated animal fat). Data are shown for the last 4 baseline days (day 11–14) prior to ICV injection, and for the injection days in which 2 μg ghrelin or aCSF were administered. The data are expressed as mean ± SEM kcal consumed as % of daily total kcal intake.</p

Impact of fasting and peripherally administered ghrelin receptor antagonist on dietary choice.

<p>Impact of acute intraperitoneal injection of a ghrelin receptor antagonist on fasting-induced changes in total energy intake and dietary choice measured during (A) 3 hr, (B) 6 hr and (C) 24 hr after the end of an overnight fast, in rats (n = 24) that had been <i>ad libitum</i> fed a choice diet comprising normal chow, 1 g sucrose pellets and lard (saturated animal fat) for 14 days prior to fast. All rats received the antagonist and saline solution in a cross over design with one day washout between injections. In panels A and B; **P<0.01. In panel C, the letters indicate significant differences (rANOVA, P<0.01).</p

Impact of ICV ghrelin on dietary choice.

<p>Impact of acute intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ghrelin on total energy intake and dietary choice during (A) 3 hr, (B) 6 hr and (C) 24 hr, in rats (n = 18) that had been <i>ad libitum</i> fed a choice diet comprising normal chow, 1 g sucrose pellets and lard (saturated animal fat) over the previous 14 days. All rats received ghrelin and vehicle solution in a cross over design with one day washout between injections. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.</p

Impact of ghrelin receptor knockout on dietary choice.

<p>Total energy intake and dietary choice were measured during (A) 3 hr, (B) 6 hr and (C) 24 hr after the end of an overnight fast, in ghrelin receptor knockout mice (GHSR-KO) and wild-type (WT) controls that had been <i>ad libitum</i> fed a choice diet comprising normal chow, 1 g sucrose pellets and lard (saturated animal fat) for 14 days prior to the overnight fast. **P<0.01 (one-way ANOVA).</p