title: Increased metabolism in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease.
abstract: Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by personality changes, chorea, dementia and weight loss. The cause of this weight loss is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine body weight changes and weight-regulating factors in HD using the R6/2 mouse model as a tool. We found that R6/2 mice started losing weight at 9 weeks of age. Total locomotor activity was unaltered and caloric intake was not decreased until 11 weeks of age, which led us to hypothesize that increased metabolism might underlie the weight loss. Indeed, oxygen consumption in R6/2 mice was elevated from 6 weeks of age, indicative of an increased metabolism. Several organ systems that regulate weight and metabolism, including the hypothalamus, the stomach and adipose tissue displayed abnormalities in R6/2 mice. Together, these data demonstrate that weight loss in R6/2 mice is associated with increased metabolism and changes in several weight-regulating factors.
authors.affiliation: Neuronal Survival Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University BMC A10, Lund, Sweden. jorien_m.van_der_Burg@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Jorien M M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van der Burg
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bacos
authors.forename: Nigel I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wierup
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Woodman
authors.forename: Jaclyn I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Wamsteeker
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deierborg
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kuhar
authors.forename: Gillian P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Hindrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erlanson-Albertsson
authors.forename: A Jennifer
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brundin
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersén
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björkqvist
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test / Q000379:methods; D019680:Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C506812:Htt protein, mouse; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins