title: Sex differences in binge eating patterns in male and female adult rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several efforts are underway to model binge eating in animals in order to advance neurobiological models of risk. However, knowledge of sex differences in these models is currently lacking. The goal of the present study was to examine sex differences in binge eating phenotypes using a well-established rodent model (i.e., the binge eating resistant/binge eating prone model).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male and 30 female adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to feeding tests consisting of intermittent access to palatable food (PF). Rats were then categorized as binge eating prone (BEP) based on the amount and consistency of PF consumption across tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across multiple methods for BEP classification, rates of BEP phenotypes were two to six times higher in female than male rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings provide support for sex differences in rodent models of binge eating and highlight the promise of the BER/BEP model for understanding neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824.
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Klump
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Britny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sisk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: animal models; binge eating; binge eating disorder; bulimia; eating disorders; nervosa; rodents; sex differences