Binge eating is a prominent characteristic of most eating disorders. A history of caloric restriction and the over-consumption of highly palatable foods are two main variables that participate in the state-dependent perpetuation of bingeing behavior. The objective of the current project is to investigate alterations that occur in the mu-opioid control of the caudal brainstem function in female rats exposed to a repeated cycle of calorie restriction and access to palatable foods. The proposed hypothesis is that a history of binge-like eating results in alterations in gastrointestinal sensory feedback, which are mediated, in part, through central opioid mechanisms. The hypothesis will be tested by using in situ hybridization labeling of the mu-opioid receptor mRNA, immunohistochemical staining of the protein product of the early immediate gene, c-Fos, and neuro-electrophysiological techniques. These approaches will allow us to determine how binge-like eating alters caudal brai nstem mu-opioid receptors (Specific Aim 1). In addition, we will determine how central mu-opioid activity alters feeding, neuronal activation (Specific Aim 2), and single unit activity of GI responsive neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract to gastric loads (Specific Aim 3). The long-term objective of this line of research is to understand how repeated cycles of calorie restriction and access to palatable foods leads to alterations in the neural mechanisms involved in the homeostatic processes of food intake. This project is unique in that it will assess the caudal brainstem sensory adaptations to the maintenance of binge-like eating. The findings from this project, therefore, will be especially relevant for the identification of sustaining factors and potential treatments for binge-related eating disorders, bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED).
| Bello, Nicholas T; Coughlin, Janelle W; Redgrave, Graham W et al. (2012) Dietary conditions and highly palatable food access alter rat cannabinoid receptor expression and binding density. Physiol Behav 105:720-6 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Patinkin, Zachary W; Moran, Timothy H (2011) Opioidergic consequences of dietary-induced binge eating. Physiol Behav 104:98-104 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Kemm, Matthew H; Ofeldt, Erica M et al. (2010) Dose combinations of exendin-4 and salmon calcitonin produce additive and synergistic reductions in food intake in nonhuman primates. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 299:R945-52 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Hajnal, Andras (2010) Dopamine and binge eating behaviors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 97:25-33 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Coughlin, Janelle W; Redgrave, Graham W et al. (2010) Oral sensory and cephalic hormonal responses to fat and non-fat liquids in bulimia nervosa. Physiol Behav 99:611-7 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Zahner, Matthew R (2009) Tesofensine, a monoamine reuptake inhibitor for the treatment of obesity. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 10:1105-16 |
| Bello, Nicholas T; Guarda, Angela S; Terrillion, Chantelle E et al. (2009) Repeated binge access to a palatable food alters feeding behavior, hormone profile, and hindbrain c-Fos responses to a test meal in adult male rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 297:R622-31 |
