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Leptin suppresses semi-starvation induced hyperactivity in rats: implications for anorexia nervosa

Molecular Psychiatry volume 5, pages 476–481 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Semi-starvation induced hyperactivity (SIH) occurs in rodents upon caloric restriction. We hypothesized that SIH is triggered by the decline in leptin secretion associated with food restriction. To test this hypothesis, rats, which had established a stable level of activity, were treated with leptin or vehicle via implanted minipumps concomitantly to initiation of food restriction for 7 days. In a second experiment treatment was initiated after SIH had already set in. In contrast to the vehicle-treated rats, which increased their baseline activity level by 300%, the development of SIH was suppressed by leptin. Furthermore, leptin was able to stop SIH, after it had set in. These results underscore the assumed major role of leptin in the adaptation to semi-starvation. Because SIH has been viewed as a model for anorexia nervosa, we also assessed subjective ratings of motor restlessness in 30 patients with this eating disorder in the emaciated state associated with hypoleptinemia and after increments in leptin secretion brought upon by therapeutically induced weight gain. Hypoleptinemic patients ranked their motor restlessness higher than upon attainment of their maximal leptin level during inpatient treatment. Thus, hypoleptinemia might also contribute to the hyperactivity frequently associated with anorexia nervosa.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Franziska Wollnik (Universität Stuttgart, Germany) for generous provision of the running wheels. We thank Tilman Görg for his technical assistance. These studies were supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology of the Philipps-University of Marburg, Animal Physiology, Karl von Frisch Str, Marburg, 35032, Germany

    C Exner, G Heldmaier & M Klingenspor

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Sachs-Str 4–8, Marburg, 35039, Germany

    J Hebebrand & H Remschmidt

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University of Würzburg, Fuechsleinstr, Würzburg, 97080, Germany

    C Wewetzer

  4. Institute of Medical Biometry of the Philipps-University of Marburg, Bunsenstr 3, Marburg, 35037, Germany

    A Ziegler

  5. Clinic of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics of the University of Essen, Virchowstr 174, Essen, 45147, Germany

    S Herpertz

  6. Clinic Roseneck, Am Roseneck 6, Prien am Chiemsee, 83209, Germany

    U Schweiger

  7. Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Saalburgstr 153, Bad Homburg, 61350, Germany

    W F Blum

  8. University Childrens Hospital, Giessen, Feulgenstr 12, Giessen, 35390, Germany

    W F Blum

  9. Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH, DG Metabolic Diseases, H 825, Frankfurt, 65926, Germany

    G Preibisch

Authors
  1. C Exner
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  2. J Hebebrand
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  6. S Herpertz
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  7. U Schweiger
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  8. W F Blum
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  9. G Preibisch
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  10. G Heldmaier
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  11. M Klingenspor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Klingenspor.

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Exner, C., Hebebrand, J., Remschmidt, H. et al. Leptin suppresses semi-starvation induced hyperactivity in rats: implications for anorexia nervosa. Mol Psychiatry 5, 476–481 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000771

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