BACKGROUND: Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa (AN). In ABA, scheduled feeding together with voluntary access to a running wheel results in increased running wheel activity (RWA), hypophagia, and body weight loss. Previously it was shown that leptin treatment reduced semi-starvation-induced hyperactivity in rats. The present study was performed to confirm and extend this finding, to evaluate leptin's effect on energy balance in ABA. METHODS: The effects of chronic leptin treatment (intracerebroventricular, 4 microg/day) in ABA rats, ad libitum-fed running rats, and sedentary rats exposed to ad libitum feeding or scheduled feeding were investigated. RESULTS: Leptin treatment decreased RWA in ABA rats. Additionally, leptin treatment reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure by thermogenesis in ABA rats. Ad libitum-fed running/sedentary rats or food-restricted sedentary rats did not reduce activity after leptin treatment, whereas all leptin-treated rats showed hypophagia. Body temperature was slightly increased in leptin-treated food-restricted sedentary rats. CONCLUSIONS: Although leptin treatment reduced RWA in ABA rats, it also prevented hypothermia and decreased food intake. Altogether, this resulted in a stronger negative energy balance and body weight loss in leptin-treated ABA rats.
BACKGROUND: Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa (AN). In ABA, scheduled feeding together with voluntary access to a running wheel results in increased running wheel activity (RWA), hypophagia, and body weight loss. Previously it was shown that leptin treatment reduced semi-starvation-induced hyperactivity in rats. The present study was performed to confirm and extend this finding, to evaluate leptin's effect on energy balance in ABA. METHODS: The effects of chronic leptin treatment (intracerebroventricular, 4 microg/day) in ABArats, ad libitum-fed running rats, and sedentary rats exposed to ad libitum feeding or scheduled feeding were investigated. RESULTS:Leptin treatment decreased RWA in ABArats. Additionally, leptin treatment reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure by thermogenesis in ABArats. Ad libitum-fed running/sedentary rats or food-restricted sedentary rats did not reduce activity after leptin treatment, whereas all leptin-treated rats showed hypophagia. Body temperature was slightly increased in leptin-treated food-restricted sedentary rats. CONCLUSIONS: Although leptin treatment reduced RWA in ABArats, it also prevented hypothermia and decreased food intake. Altogether, this resulted in a stronger negative energy balance and body weight loss in leptin-treated ABArats.
Authors: A Torsello; F Brambilla; L Tamiazzo; I Bulgarelli; D Rapetti; E Bresciani; V Locatelli Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: A A van Elburg; M J H Kas; J J G Hillebrand; R J C Eijkemans; H van Engeland Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2007-05-26 Impact factor: 3.575