Effects of propranolol on body weight reduction in rats induced by chronic administration of baclofen

We have reported that chronic administration of the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (bac; 4 mg kg-1) reduces body weight by increasing metabolic rate (Patel et al., 2010). Rothwell et al. (1986) have previously demonstrated in an acute experiment that bac microinjected into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus of urethane-anaesthetised rats activates brown fat metabolism (BFM) which is attenuated by pretreatment with the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (prop), suggesting that BFM is secondary to the activation of sympathetic nervous system activity. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of chronic administration of prop on the effects of bac on body weight in non-deprived rats.