Neuropeptide Y (NPY) induces a robust feeding response when it is injected in the hypothalamus. It stimulates both carbohydrate and fat intakes. Diets rich in either macronutrient are known to induce obesity and to modify feeding behavior. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of long-term ingestion of these diets on hypothalamic NPY in relation with food intake and body weight gain and composition. For this purpose, three groups of weanling Long-Evans rats were fed either a well-balanced diet, a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet (high starch plus 25% sucrose solution), or a high-fat (HF) diet during 14 weeks. Body weight and food intake were recorded during this period. At the end of the experiment, NPY was measured in several microdissected brain areas, and some adipose tissues (AT) depots were sampled. HF rats weighed significantly more than the two other groups (p < 0.02). They were also fattier (+ 30-50% in AT weights; p < 0.01). Energy intake (EI) of the HC rats was significantly greater than that of the control (+ 15%; p < 0.02) and HF rats (+ 34%; p < 0.01) during the week preceding killing. EI of HF rats over the whole experiment was lower than that of the two groups (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)