A kappa opiate agonist, U50,488H, enhances energy expenditure in rats.
The effect of U50,488H (a selective kappa opiate agonist) on oxygen consumption was measured in either resting and free-moving rats. In both states, U50,488H provokes an increase in oxygen consumption. In resting rats, the increase occurs at lower doses than in free-moving rats. The explanation could be that in the free-moving rats the drug results in an increase in energy expenditure, partially compensated by a decrease in activity.