Hypophagic and hypolocomotive effects of metachloro phenyl piperazine in rats treated with theophylline and caffeine

Long term intake of coffee is known to produce anxiety and suppression of appetite. 5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) acting via 5-HT-2C receptors elicits anorexia and anxiety. The present study is design to monitor metachloro phenyl piperazine (m-CPP) at a dose of 3mg/ml/kg, induces hypophagia and hypolocomotion in rats taking a solution of caffeine (a component of coffee and tea) or theophylline (a component of tea) as a sole source of water. We found that hypophagic and hypolocomotive effects of m-CPP were attenuated in theophylline but not in caffeine treated animals suggesting that long term intake of theophylline may attenuate anorexiogenic and anxiogenic effects of 5-HT. A possible role of 5-HT-2C receptors in the modulation of anxiety and appetite in people drinking coffee or tea discussed.