title: Measurement and characterization of energy intake in the mouse.
abstract: Because of the dramatic increase in obesity and related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, efforts have intensified to develop medications to assist in losing weight or in minimizing weight gain. To this end, methods that allow for the continuous monitoring of metabolically relevant functions in laboratory animals have been developed to help identify novel anorectic and thermogenic agents. Described in this unit is an in vivo procedure for simultaneous recording of feeding, drinking, and motor activity in mice. Data obtained using reference compounds are presented to illustrate how results are calculated, including the minimum effective dose and the dose producing a half-maximal effect (ED(50)), as well as the time of onset and duration of action. Information derived from this procedure reveals the specificity of an anorectic effect, which, when combined with parameters of meal patterns, allows for inferences to be made about the effects of test compounds on satiety and hunger.
authors.affiliation: Biovitrum, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Svartengren
authors.forename: Ali-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Modiri
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McArthur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine