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Binge‐like eating in mice
Author(s) -
Consoli Daniele,
Contarino Angelo,
Tabarin Antoine,
Drago Filippo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20637
Subject(s) - binge eating , pathological , psychology , eating behavior , etiology , food intake , feeding behavior , endocrinology , medicine , animal model , developmental psychology , physiology , eating disorders , clinical psychology , psychiatry , obesity
Objective Given the lack of reliable murine model of binge‐like eating, we tried to induce this pathological behavior in mice. Method We used an experimental protocol mimicking the etiological factors involved in the development of binge eating in humans, that is, food restriction, refeeding (R‐R) in presence of high palatable food, and stress (S). Results Mice subjected to at least three cycles of R‐R plus S (forced swimming stress), showed a binge‐like behavior evident as early as 4 h, persisting 24 h after stress application and not associated to depressive‐like behavior. However, after the third R‐R/S cycle, food intakes of mice returned to normal levels. Discussion (i) at least three cycles of R‐R plus S are required to promote abnormal eating in mice, (ii) this is not associated to depressive‐like behaviors, and (iii) the enhanced pathological behavior showed a transient nature not persisting after the third R‐R/S cycle. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord, 2009