Satietin (SAT) is a putative satiety agent found in a variety of species including man and the rat. In the present study, satietin was extracted from bovine plasma (b-SAT) and further high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-purified. Rats were given chronic third ventricle cannulas and patency was verified. In experiment 1, rats were divided into three groups and ICV infused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (a-CSF) or b-SAT: group 1, a-CSF (n = 11); group 2, 20 micrograms/rat, b-SAT (n = 11); and group 3, 40 micrograms/rat, b-SAT (n = 9). Infusions were repeated thrice three days apart. Compared to a-CSF, the high b-SAT dose suppressed food intake for 24-h after each successive infusion. The low dose significantly decreased food intake only after the first infusion. Water intake was suppressed only after the first injection of the high dose. Body weight was decreased after the first and second infusions of both doses and following the third infusion of the high dose. In experiment 2, rats were trained to drink fluid for 1 h/day while food was ad lib. On day 1, both groups received no infusions and were given tap water. On day 2, the groups were ICV infused with a-CSF, but group 1 (n = 12) was given banana-flavored fluid (BFF) and group 2 (n = 12) almond-flavored fluid (AFF). On day 3, group 1 was again a-CSF-infused but given AFF, whereas group 2 received 40 micrograms/rat b-SAT and was given BFF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)