Control of hyperphagia prevents obesity in BDNF heterozygous mice.
Reduced levels of BDNF in mice cause obesity and behavioral abnormalities including increased aggression and hyperactivity. While it has been shown that the obesity is in part caused by increased food consumption it is still not clear whether defects in other mechanisms involved in the control of body weight homeostasis can also affect this phenotype. Here we report that mice with reduced levels of BDNF do not develop obesity and have normal blood glucose levels if fed over a prolonged period of time the amount of food that control mice usually consume. Thus, hyperphagia appears to be the primary cause of obesity development rather than changes in mechanisms controlling metabolism.
Coppola
Vincenzo
V
Neural Development Group, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, 7th Street, Bldg. 560 Rm. 32-31D, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Tessarollo
Lino
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000235:genetics; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor