Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH University, Aachen, Germany.
J Neurosci Methods. 2018 Jan 1;293:191-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.09.018. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is often a chronic eating disorder characterised by body image disturbance and low body weight often associated with starvation-induced amenorrhoea and excessive exercise. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is an animal model representing many somatic aspects of this psychiatric illness. We systematically manipulated the extent and length of starvation and animal age to find the optimal parameters to study chronic starvation.
Wistar rats had 24h/day running wheel access and received 40% of their baseline food intake until a 20% or 25% weight reduction was reached (acute starvation). This body weight was then maintained for two weeks (chronic starvation). The rats of different ages of 4 or 8 weeks were used to represent early and late adolescent animals, respectively. The complete absence of a menstrual cycle was defined as the primary outcome parameter.
Acute starvation caused a disruption of the oestrous cycle in 58% of the animals. During chronic starvation, a complete loss of the oestrous cycle could be found. Furthermore, 4-week-old rats exhibited higher levels of hyperactivity and amenorrhoea than 8-week-old animals. A 20% starvation level led to 90% loss of cycle, while a 25% starvation level triggered complete loss.
Most current ABA models focus on acute starvation, while most patients are chronically ill.
The optimal parameters to achieve complete amenorrhoea included early adolescence, chronic starvation and 25% weight loss. The new ABA model allows studying the effects of chronic AN on underlying behavioural, hormonal and brain pathobiology.
神经性厌食症（AN）是一种常见的慢性进食障碍，其特征是身体形象障碍和低体重，常伴有饥饿诱导的闭经和过度运动。基于活动的厌食症（ABA）是一种代表这种精神疾病许多躯体方面的动物模型。我们系统地操纵了饥饿的程度和时间以及动物的年龄，以找到研究慢性饥饿的最佳参数。
Wistar 大鼠每天有 24 小时的跑步轮使用权，并接受其基础饮食摄入量的 40%，直到体重减轻 20%或 25%（急性饥饿）。然后将体重维持两周（慢性饥饿）。4 周或 8 周龄的大鼠分别代表早期和晚期青春期动物。完全没有月经周期被定义为主要的结果参数。
急性饥饿导致 58%的动物的发情周期中断。在慢性饥饿期间，发现完全失去了发情周期。此外，4 周龄的大鼠比 8 周龄的大鼠表现出更高的多动性和闭经。20%的饥饿水平导致 90%的周期丧失，而 25%的饥饿水平则导致完全丧失。
大多数当前的 ABA 模型侧重于急性饥饿，而大多数患者患有慢性疾病。
达到完全闭经的最佳参数包括青春期早期、慢性饥饿和 25%的体重减轻。新的 ABA 模型允许研究慢性 AN 对潜在的行为、激素和大脑病理生理学的影响。
