title: Reduced astrocyte density underlying brain volume reduction in activity-based anorexia rats
abstract: Severe grey and white matter volume reductions were found in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) that were linked to neuropsychological deficits while their underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. For the first time, we analysed the cellular basis of brain volume changes in an animal model (activity-based anorexia, ABA).
  
  
  
  Female rats had 24 h/day running wheel access and received reduced food intake until a 25% weight reduction was reached and maintained for 2 weeks.
  
  
  
  In ABA rats, the volumes of the cerebral cortex and corpus callosum were significantly reduced compared to controls by 6% and 9%, respectively. The number of GFAP-positive astrocytes in these regions decreased by 39% and 23%, total astrocyte-covered area by 83% and 63%. In neurons no changes were observed. The findings were complemented by a 60% and 49% reduction in astrocyte (GFAP) mRNA expression.
  
  
  
  Volumetric brain changes in ABA animals mirror those in human AN patients. These alterations are associated with a reduction of GFAP-positive astrocytes as well as GFAP expression. Reduced astrocyte functioning could help explain neuronal dysfunctions leading to symptoms of rigidity and impaired learning. Astrocyte loss could constitute a new research target for understanding and treating semi-starvation and AN.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frintrop
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.|b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liesbrock
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.|b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paulukat
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johann
authors.affiliation: c Department of Translational Neuroscience , Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.|d Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martien J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kas
authors.affiliation: e Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Experimental Surgery , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tolba
authors.affiliation: f Department of Medical Statistics , University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heussen
authors.affiliation: g Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neulen
authors.affiliation: b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.affiliation: b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herpertz-Dahlmann
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Cordian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000473:pathology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C000614142:Gfap protein, rat; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
keywords: ABA rat model; anorexia nervosa; astrocytes; corpus callosum; cortex volume