HYPOPHAGIC, ENDOCRINE AND SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES TO M-CHLOROPHENYLPIPERAZINE IN HEALTHY-MEN AND WOMEN

We studied the effect of the 5-HT receptor agonist, m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) (0.4 mg orally), on food intake, plasma prolactin and subjective state in 24 healthy male and female volunteers, using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. mCPP lowered food intake, and increased plasma prolactin to the same extent in both sexes. Increased anxiety ratings, however, occurred more in females. Other mCPP-induced subjective changes in nausea, light-headedness and hunger did not distinguish the sexes. There was no significant correlation between the decrease in food intake produced by mCPP and any of the subjective ratings. Overall, the data indicate that mCPP produces significant hypophagia in both men and women. The greater anxiogenic effect of mCPP in female subjects is of interest in view of the increased prevalence of clinical anxiety disorders in women.