In search for perfection: An activity-based rodent model of anorexia

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa represents a disorder with the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric diseases, yet our understanding of its behavioral, physiological, and neurochemical components still remains incomplete. Clearly, societal pressures (i.e., cultural values of thinness and fitness), obsessional temperament, and perfectionism cannot be illustrated by any animal model, but on the other hand, some strong similarities between self-starvation in rodents and anorexia nervosa can be noted. An activity-based rodent model of anorexia provides a phenomenon (i.e., excessive running, reduced food intake, and subsequent weight loss) that can be easily implemented and effectively used to explore the pathophysiological consequences of semi-starvation and hyperactivity, which are characteristics of anorexia nervosa. To date, it is thought to be the best-fitting animal model analogous to anorexia nervosa.