Olanzapine reduces physical activity in rats exposed to activity-based anorexia: possible implications for treatment of anorexia nervosa?

J.J.G. Hillebrand, A. van Elburg, M.J.H. Kas, H. van Engeland, R.A.H. Adan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients often show extreme hypophagia and excessive physical activity. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of AN and mimics food restriction and hyperactivity in rats. This study investigated whether treatment with olanzapine (Zyprexa) reduces the development of ABA in rats. The effect of olanzapine treatment in AN patients was also evaluated in a small open-label study.

METHODS: Rats were chronically (1 week) infused with olanzapine (7.5 mg/kg) and exposed to the ABA model or ad libitum feeding. Hyperactive AN patients were followed for up to 3 months of olanzapine treatment (5 mg/kg).

RESULTS: Olanzapine treatment reduced development of ABA in rats by reducing running wheel activity, starvation-induced hypothermia and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Olanzapine treatment reduced activity levels of AN patients compared with untreated AN patients, without affecting body weight and plasma leptin levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine treatment reduced wheel running and thereby diminished development of ABA in rats. Olanzapine treatment also reduced physical activity in hyperactive AN patients in a small open-label study. These data support the need for controlled studies investigating the putative beneficial effects of olanzapine treatment in AN patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)651-657
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume58
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Adolescent
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Animals
  • Anorexia
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Body Temperature
  • Body Weight
  • Corticosterone
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Running
  • Time Factors

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