Tag: Animal models

In a 2021 commentary in *The Journal of Nutrition*, experts argued that it is time to reconsider the AIN 93 rodent diet formula. The formula was developed in 1993 and, despite its widespread use, new evidence regarding animal nutrition and potential adverse effects has prompted a reevaluation of this industry standard.

According to the World Health Organization, over 650 million adults worldwide are obese, a condition frequently modeled in labs using HFD, or high-fat diets, to study its causes and treatments. This specialized dietary approach is a critical tool for researchers investigating obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic diseases.

While not a typical vitamin deficiency, a D5 deficiency refers to a genetic condition affecting the dopamine receptor D5 (D5R), which plays a crucial role in cognitive functions like learning and memory. Research, primarily using mouse models, has highlighted the profound neurological consequences of this deficiency, distinguishing it from more common deficiencies.

Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric illnesses. The severity and resistance to treatment of anorexia have led researchers to develop animal models to better understand the disorder's mechanisms, with activity based anorexia being the most prominent. This unique behavioral phenomenon provides critical insight into the interaction between restricted food intake and excessive physical activity.

In animal studies dating back to 1967, rats with restricted feeding schedules but unlimited access to a running wheel paradoxically increased their physical activity while decreasing their food intake, leading to fatal weight loss. This biobehavioral phenomenon is known as activity anorexia and provides a crucial model for understanding aspects of human eating disorders.