title: Leptin reduces hyperactivity in an animal model for anorexia nervosa via the ventral tegmental area.
abstract: Hyperactivity in anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with low plasma leptin levels and negatively impacts on disease outcome. Using an animal model that mimics features of AN including food-restriction induced hyperlocomotion, we demonstrate that central leptin injections in the lateral ventricle and local injections of leptin into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) suppress running wheel activity. The results support that falling levels of leptin, that accompany caloric restriction, result in increased activity levels because of decreased leptin signaling in the VTA, part of the mesolimbic reward system.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht,University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Linda A W
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.forename: Mieneke C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Luijendijk
authors.forename: Roger A H
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057967:Infusions, Intraventricular; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin