Models for Environmentally Induced Eating Disorders: Dietary Hyperphagia and Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

The two protocols in this unit provide suggestions for constructing models of eating disorders that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum: dietary hyperphagia and anorexia nervosa. The greatest degree of dietary hyperphagia is induced by giving rats or mice access to a daily choice of highly palatable foods (e.g., chocolate or bread) in addition to their regular chow. Like humans, rats overeat and actually develop physiological requirements for these foods. This model can be used to test the effects of putative anorectic agents on both acute and chronic administration regimens. The second protocol describes a model of compulsive behavior that results in profound weight loss, which is produced by moderate food deprivation along with continuous access to exercise wheels.

Measurement and Characterization of Energy Intake in the Mouse

“…Review of meal patterns, data reduction, and the theoretical implications for these techniques when studying feeding behavior and drug-induced changes. Pelleymounter et al, 1999. See above.…”

“…Do not use the data recorded during the first hour, as they are influenced by the handling and injecting of the animals. (Pelleymounter et al, 1999 Analyze data 7. At the end of the study, transfer the individual time-stamped data generated by WinLinc software into an Excel file (Table 5.40.1).…”

“…Other reference compounds may be used. The choice of a reference compound depends on the class of compound being tested (Pelleymounter et al, 1999).…”