Effect of intracerebroventricular administration of chlorpromazine on the serum level of free fatty acids in rats.

The effect of intracerebroventricular administration of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the serum level of free fatty acid (FFA) was studied in rats. Injection of CPZ into the lateral ventricle caused a transient decrease in serum FFA, showing the lowest level after 30 min. This decrease in serum FFA caused by CPZ was significantly inhibited by simultaneous injection of dopamine or apomorphine, although noradrenaline and serotonin had no effect. The dopaminergic blocking agent haloperidol caused a rapid decrease in serum FFA. After central chemical sympathectomy with the intracerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, the response to CPZ of serum FFA was completely abolished; but after peripheral sympathectomy by i.v. injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, a partial inhibition of the action of CPZ was shown. These results suggest a possible involvement of the central dopaminergic mechanism in the decrease in serum FFA after intracerebroventricular injection of CPZ.