"Depression" increases "craving" for sweet rewards in animal and human models of depression and craving

Willner, Paul; Benton, David; Brown, Emma; Cheeta, Survjit; Davies, Gareth; Morgan, John Emrys; Morgan, M.

doi:10.1007/s002130050566

Cited by 172 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In this study, we observed that rats submitted to chronic administration of H-BCAA have a decreased sweet food intake and increased adrenal gland weight, without any alteration of body weight compared with the control group. This mimics anhedonia, a key depressive symptom (Katz et al 1981b;Willner et al 1987Willner et al , 1998. We also observed an increase in immobility time in the H-BCAA group during the forced swimming test.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Behavioral Responses in Rats Submitted to Chronic Administration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

et al. 2013

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Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn metabolism error caused by a deficiency of branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase complex activity. This blockage leads to an accumulation of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine, as well as their corresponding a-keto and a-hydroxy acids. Previous reports suggest that MSUD patients are at high risk for chronic neuropsychiatric problems. Therefore, in this study, we assessed variables that suggest depressive-like symptoms (anhedonia as measured by sucrose intake, immobility during the forced swimming test and body and adrenal gland weight) in rats submitted to chronic administration of BCAA during development. Furthermore, we determined if these parameters were sensitive to imipramine and N-acetylcysteine/deferoxamine (NAC/DFX). Our results demonstrated that animals subjected to chronic administration of branched-chain amino acids showed a decrease in sucrose intake without significant changes in body weight. We also observed an increase in adrenal gland weight and immobility time during the forced swimming test. However, treatment with imipramine and NAC/DFX reversed these changes in the behavioral tasks. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a link between MSUD and depression in rats. Moreover, this investigation reveals that the antidepressant action of NAC/DFX and imipramine might be associated with their capability to maintain pro-/anti-oxidative homeostasis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Behavioral Responses in Rats Submitted to Chronic Administration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

et al. 2013

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“…18,19,30 It has been argued that performance under the PR schedule provides a measure of motivation to obtain specific foods rather then a measured hedonic value ('liking'). For example, alterations in mood affect performance under a PR schedule using chocolate as reinforcer in humans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, alterations in mood affect performance under a PR schedule using chocolate as reinforcer in humans. 30 It is so far unknown, whether obese individuals differentially respond under a PR schedule.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reciprocal interaction between food-motivated behavior and diet-induced obesity

et al. 2007

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Objectives: One of the main causes of obesity is overconsumption of diets high in fat and sugar. We studied the metabolic changes and food-motivated behavior when rats were subjected to a choice diet with chow, lard and a 30% sucrose solution (high fat high sugar (HFHS)-choice diet). Because rats showed considerable variations in the feeding response to HFHS-choice diet and in food-motivated behavior, we investigated whether the motivation to obtain a sucrose reward correlated with the development of obesity when rats were subsequently subjected to HFHS-choice diet. Method: We first studied feeding, locomotor activity and body temperature, fat weights and hormonal concentrations when male Wistar rats were subjected to HFHS-choice diet for 1 week. Second, we studied sucrose-motivated behavior, using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement in rats that were subjected to the HFHS-choice diet for at least 2 weeks, compared to control rats on a chow diet. Third, we measured motivation for sucrose under a PR schedule of reinforcement in rats that were subsequently subjected to HFHS-choice diet or a chow diet for 4 weeks. Fat weights were measured and correlated with the motivation to obtain sucrose pellets. Results: One week on the HFHS-choice diet increased plasma concentrations of glucose and leptin, increased fat stores, but did not alter body temperature or locomotor activity. Moreover, consuming the HFHS-choice diet for several weeks increased the motivation to work for sucrose pellets. Furthermore, the motivation to obtain sucrose pellets correlated positively with abdominal fat stores in rats subsequently subjected to the HFHS-choice diet, whereas this correlation was not found in rats fed on a chow diet. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the motivation to respond for palatable food correlates with obesity due to an obesogenic environment. Conversely, the HFHS-choice diet, which results in obesity, also increased the motivation to work for sucrose. Thus, being motivated to work for sucrose results in obesity, which, in turn, increases food-motivated behavior, resulting in a vicious circle of food motivation and obesity. IntroductionObesity is one of the fastest growing medical problems in modern society. It contributes to the development of chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers. 1 For healthy body weight regulation, it is important to balance energy intake and energy expenditure. Modern society, however, is characterized by a sedentary lifestyle and a calorie intake, which is not adjusted for that. Although regulatory mechanisms that balance intake and expenditure are known , 2,3 it still remains unclear why this fails in obese individuals. It has been postulated that the ability to overconsume high-energy dense foods (in the face of plentiful food availability) was selected during evolution. Thus, under conditions when food availability is uncertain and scarce, consuming highenergy dense foods is an adequate adaptation (for a review see Uli...

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“…It is interesting to note that basic research in both animals and humans (Willner et al, 1998) has shown that subjects find sweet foods to be more reinforcing after depressive mood induction. There are wide individual differences in the influence of depression on body weight, with some people gaining weight while depressed and others losing weight (Barefoot et al, 1998).…”

Section: Depression and The Reinforcing Value Of Foodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food reinforcement and eating: A multilevel analysis.

Epstein¹,

Leddy²,

Temple³

et al. 2007

Psychological Bulletin

325

323

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Eating represents a choice among many alternative behaviors. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how food reinforcement and behavioral choice theory are related to eating and to show how this theoretical approach may help organize research on eating from molecular genetics through treatment and prevention of obesity. Special emphasis is placed on how food reinforcement and behavioral choice theory are relevant to understanding excess energy intake and obesity and how they provide a framework for examining factors that may influence eating and are outside of those that may regulate energy homeostasis. Methods to measure food reinforcement are reviewed, along with factors that influence the reinforcing value of eating. Contributions of neuroscience and genetics to the study of food reinforcement are illustrated by using the example of dopamine. Implications of food reinforcement for obesity and positive energy balance are explored, with suggestions for novel approaches to obesity treatment based on the synthesis of behavioral and pharmacological approaches to food reinforcement. Keywords food reinforcement; food intake; choice; dopamine; behavioral genetics Choice is ubiquitous. There are many choices that people make that influence their eating and body weight, beginning with how early to get up, to exercise before breakfast or to sleep in, what to have for breakfast, and so on. These choices are made in the context of alternatives, many of which are pleasurable and exert considerable influence to do these behaviors rather than others. The morning is a good time for many people to choose to exercise, but a warm bed and a little extra sleep time represent a powerful alternative that even the most enthusiastic exerciser confronts and often succumbs to. Similarly, eating a good breakfast starts the day off right, but a pastry and coffee may be particularly inviting alternative foods that taste very good and may tempt many away from healthy cereal and fruit. This article provides a theoretical framework for understanding motivation to eat, how people make choices about eating versus engaging in other behaviors, and how these theoretical approaches can provide insights into obesity, mechanisms that regulate food choice, and implications of choice theory for interventions. One of the unique aspects of food reinforcement and behavioral theories of

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"Depression" increases "craving" for sweet rewards in animal and human models of depression and craving

Cited by 172 publications

References 53 publications

Behavioral Responses in Rats Submitted to Chronic Administration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Behavioral Responses in Rats Submitted to Chronic Administration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

A reciprocal interaction between food-motivated behavior and diet-induced obesity

Food reinforcement and eating: A multilevel analysis.

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