Increased metabolism in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease.
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.
van der Burg
Jorien M M
JM
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
Bacos
Karl
K
Wood
Nigel I
NI
Lindqvist
Andreas
A
Wierup
Nils
N
Woodman
Ben
B
Wamsteeker
Jaclyn I
JI
Smith
Ruben
R
Deierborg
Tomas
T
Kuhar
Michael J
MJ
Bates
Gillian P
GP
Mulder
Hindrik
H
Erlanson-Albertsson
Charlotte
C
Morton
A Jennifer
AJ
Brundin
Patrik
P
Petersén
Asa
A
Björkqvist
Maria
M
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
C506812:Htt protein, mouse; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins