title: Binge-like eating in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given the lack of reliable murine model of binge-like eating, we tried to induce this pathological behavior in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. consolidaniele@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contarino
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabarin
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002032:Bulimia; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D005518:Food Preferences; D006815:Hunger; D006963:Hyperphagia; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009042:Motivation; D011897:Random Allocation; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013550:Swimming; D013649:Taste