Research Article

Early handling reduces vulnerability of rats to activity-based anorexia

  1. O. Carrera1,
  2. E. Gutiérrez1,*,
  3. R.A. Boakes2

Article first published online: 2 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1002/dev.20175

Issue

Developmental Psychobiology

Developmental Psychobiology

Volume 48, Issue 7, pages 520–527, November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Carrera, O., Gutiérrez, E. and Boakes, R.A. (2006), Early handling reduces vulnerability of rats to activity-based anorexia. Dev. Psychobiol., 48: 520–527. doi: 10.1002/dev.20175

Author Information

  1. 1

    Universidad de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

  2. 2

    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

*Universidad de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 2 OCT 2006
  3. Manuscript Received: 5 AUG 2006
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 5 AUG 2006

Funded by

  • Caixanova
  • Xunta de Galicia, Spain

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Keywords:

  • activity-based anorexia;
  • early experience;
  • handling;
  • Wistar rats;
  • restricted feeding;
  • vulnerability;
  • stress

Abstract

Resistance to restricted feeding with and without wheel access was tested in rats handled (H) for 20 days since birth. Weight loss produced by 1.5-hr restricted food access was less in H than in non-handled (NH) males when tested aged 41 days. At this age combining food restriction with access to a running wheel (a procedure commonly known as activity-based anorexia, ABA) produced very rapid weight loss and no effect of handling was detected. When 75-day females were tested in the same way, under the ABA procedure H rats took longer than NH controls to reach the removal criterion. Simply restricting food access in these females produced variable weight loss, without detection of any handling effect. No differences in food intake or running were detected between H and NH rats in either males or females. In conclusion, handling seems to have a direct effect on rats' later response to either food deprivation alone or to an ABA procedure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 48: 520–527, 2006.

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