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Moderate dieting causes 5-HT 2C receptor supersensitivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

P. J. Cowen ,
E. M. Clifford ,
A. E. S. Walsh ,
C. Williams  and
C. G. Fairburn
P. J. Cowen*
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
E. M. Clifford
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
A. E. S. Walsh
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
C. Williams
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
C. G. Fairburn
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. J. Cowen, University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford OX4 4XN.
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Synopsis

Dieting is a widespread behaviour in developed countries, which in predisposed individuals can lead to the development of clinical eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. We studied the effect of moderate dieting in healthy women on the prolactin response to the serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonist, m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a measure of the sensitivity of post-synaptic 5-HT2C receptors. Dieting significantly increased the prolactin response to mCPP and lowered plasma concentrations of the 5-HT precursor, tryptophan. We propose that dieting in women is associated with the development of functional supersensitivity of 5-HT2C receptors, probably in response to lowered levels of brain 5-HT. Alterations in brain 5-HT neurotransmission could play a part in dieting-induced dysregulation of eating and the development of clinical eating disorders in predisposed individuals.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , November 1996 , pp. 1155 - 1159
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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