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Micheal Lutter MD, PhD. is known for research regarding the relationship between psychiatric disorders and metabolic diseases.
In a previous study he and fellow researchers at the University of Iowa discovered a gene linked to eating disorders.
Now, in a new study they have shown how the loss of the gene in mice, can lead to behavioural abnormalities which resemble those seen in humans with anorexia nervosa.
Working with genetically engineered mice, it was shown that mice lacking the estrogen-related receptor alpha gene [ESRRA] were less motivated to search out high-fat foods when hungry and also showed signs of abnormal social interactions.
Null ESRRA female mice also showed signs of obsessive compulsive like behaviours.
The study also showed ESRRA levels are controlled by energy status and that restricting calorie intake over several days raises the ESRRA in the brain of normal mice.
Decreased calorie intake usually motivates animals, including humans to search out high calorie food. The finding shows the loss of ESRRA may disrupt this function.
When the team selectively removed the gene from the orbitofrontal cortex, it produced increased obsessive compulsive type disorders in the female mice [ twitchy and compulsive over grooming.] When it was removed from the prefrontal cortex, it produced mice who were less willing to search out high-fat foods when hungry.
Lutter said, "Mouse models of human neuropsychiatric illnesses are useful for identifying cellular and molecular abnormalities that might contribute to illnesses like eating disorders".
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150409133515.htm
Here is a piece regarding Lutters study on genes and related eating disorders.
http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/10/two-genes-linked-increased-risk-eating-disorders
In a previous study he and fellow researchers at the University of Iowa discovered a gene linked to eating disorders.
Now, in a new study they have shown how the loss of the gene in mice, can lead to behavioural abnormalities which resemble those seen in humans with anorexia nervosa.
Working with genetically engineered mice, it was shown that mice lacking the estrogen-related receptor alpha gene [ESRRA] were less motivated to search out high-fat foods when hungry and also showed signs of abnormal social interactions.
Null ESRRA female mice also showed signs of obsessive compulsive like behaviours.
The study also showed ESRRA levels are controlled by energy status and that restricting calorie intake over several days raises the ESRRA in the brain of normal mice.
Decreased calorie intake usually motivates animals, including humans to search out high calorie food. The finding shows the loss of ESRRA may disrupt this function.
When the team selectively removed the gene from the orbitofrontal cortex, it produced increased obsessive compulsive type disorders in the female mice [ twitchy and compulsive over grooming.] When it was removed from the prefrontal cortex, it produced mice who were less willing to search out high-fat foods when hungry.
Lutter said, "Mouse models of human neuropsychiatric illnesses are useful for identifying cellular and molecular abnormalities that might contribute to illnesses like eating disorders".
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150409133515.htm
Here is a piece regarding Lutters study on genes and related eating disorders.
http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/10/two-genes-linked-increased-risk-eating-disorders
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