The mechanism of clonidine-induced hyperphagia and weight gain in monkeys was studied in 11 Stumptail macaques. Clonidine induced a significant increase in food intake over baseline levels and a significant weight gain after the 3-day treatment period. Both changes induced by clonidine were antagonized by the
2-noradrenergic antagonist yohimbine, but not by prazosin, an
2-noradrenergic antagonist. These results suggest that clonidine-induced hyperphagia and weight gain in monkeys are mediated through
2-noradrenergic receptors.
Key words Clonidine - Yohimbine - Prazosin - Hyperphagia - 2-Noradrenergic receptors - Monkeys