A history of caloric restriction induces neurochemical and behavioral changes in rats consistent with models of depression.
A history of dieting is common in individuals suffering from eating disorders for which depression and mood disturbances are also comorbid. We investigated the effect of a history of caloric restriction (HCR) in rats that involved cyclic food restriction and refeeding with varying levels of access to palatable food (PF) on: 1) responses to the SSRI, fluoxetine; 2) monoamine levels in brain regions central to the control of feeding, reward, and mood regulation; and 3) behavioral tests of anxiety and depression. HCR coupled with intermittent but not daily access to PF exaggerated rats' anorectic response to fluoxetine (p<0.05); was associated with a significant 71% and 58% reduction of 5-HT and dopamine, respectively, in the medial prefrontal cortex; and induced behaviors consistent with models of depression. HCR, irrespective of access to PF, abolished the strong association between 5-HT and dopamine turnover in the nucleus accumbens in control rats (r=0.71 vs. -0.06, p<0.01). Access to PF, irrespective of HCR, reduced hypothalamic dopamine. Together, these findings suggest that a history of frequent food restriction-induced weight fluctuation imposes neurochemical changes that negatively impact feeding and mood regulation.
Chandler-Laney
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PC
Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Division, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170, USA. pchandle@uab.edu
Castaneda
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E
Pritchett
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CE
Smith
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ML
Giddings
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Artiga
A I
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Boggiano
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MM
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000523:psychology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology
D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013395:Sucrose