ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1510-880X
Current Organisations
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
,
University of Melbourne
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-10-2020
DOI: 10.1111/GBB.12613
Abstract: Overeating is a major contributing factor to obesity and related health complications. For women, in particular, negative emotions such as stress strongly influence eating behavior and bingeing episodes. Modeling this type of binge eating in rodents presents challenges: firstly, stress-induced anorexia is commonly observed in rodents therefore a mild stressor is required in order to observe an orexigenic effect. Second, many studies report using calorie restriction to observe the required behavior yet this does not necessarily reflect the human condition. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a model of emotional stress-induced bingeing independent of caloric restriction. Female and male C57BL/6J mice were ided into ad libitum (n = 20 per sex) and food-restricted (n = 20 per sex) groups which were both further split into a control group and a group exposed to frustration stress (n = 10 per group). All mice were provided intermittent access to a highly palatable food in 2 cycles. At the end of each cycle the stress group was subjected to a 15-minute frustration episode where highly palatable food was within the home cage but inaccessible. Both groups were then given free access for 15 minutes. Frustrated female mice from the ad libitum displayed binge-like behavior compared with controls (P = .0001). Notably, this behavior was absent in males. Ovariectomy had no impact on binge-like behavior. Collectively, these data validate a novel model of emotional stress-induced binge eating specific to female mice which does not require caloric restriction and is not driven by ovarian hormones.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.EJPHAR.2014.09.005
Abstract: In this study, the antioxidant and antidepressant-like activities of the semi-synthetic compound α-phenylseleno citronellal (PhSeCIT) and the natural terpenoid R-citronellal (CIT) were evaluated. The biological potential of PhSeCIT and CIT was evaluated by antioxidant in vitro assays, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and linoleic acid oxidation. The compounds were also assessed by ex vivo tests to determine the acute toxicity, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-Ala-D) and Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activities. The antidepressant-like activity of compounds in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the addition of an organoselenium group to (R)-citronellal increased its antioxidant properties, since PhSeCIT showed better activity than CIT. The treatment of mice with both compounds did not cause death of any animals. The levels of TBARS were significantly reduced by PhSeCIT in liver and cortex of animals, whereas CIT did not alter these parameters. In the TST and FST, PhSeCIT showed promising antidepressant-like activity, while CIT was not active in this test. Taken together, these data demonstrate the role of selenium in the antioxidant and antidepressant-like activities of (R)-citronellal.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-07-2023
DOI: 10.1038/S41386-023-01665-6
Abstract: It is well-established that stress and negative affect trigger eating disorder symptoms and that the brains of men and women respond to stress in different ways. Indeed, women suffer disproportionately from emotional or stress-related eating, as well as associated eating disorders such as binge eating disorder. Nevertheless, our understanding of the precise neural circuits driving this maladaptive eating behavior, particularly in women, remains limited. We recently established a clinically relevant model of ‘emotional’ stress-induced binge eating whereby only female mice display binge eating in response to an acute “emotional” stressor. Here, we combined neuroanatomic, transgenic, immunohistochemical and pathway-specific chemogenetic approaches to investigate whole brain functional architecture associated with stress-induced binge eating in females, focusing on the role of Vglut2 projections from the paraventricular thalamus (PVT Vglut2+ ) to the medial insular cortex in this behavior. Whole brain activation mapping and hierarchical clustering of Euclidean distances revealed distinct patterns of coactivation unique to stress-induced binge eating. At a pathway-specific level, PVT Vglut2+ cells projecting to the medial insular cortex were specifically activated in response to stress-induced binge eating. Subsequent chemogenetic inhibition of this pathway suppressed stress-induced binge eating. We have identified a distinct PVT Vglut2+ to insular cortex projection as a key driver of “emotional” stress-induced binge eating in female mice, highlighting a novel circuit underpinning this sex-specific behavior.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.PHAREP.2017.03.016
Abstract: This study evaluated the antinociceptive action of α-(phenylalanyl) acetophenone (PSAP) in mice. Evaluated whether the serotonergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic systems are involved in PSAP antinociceptive activity. PSAP was administered intragastrically (ig) 30min prior to formalin or glutamate test and compared with a standard drug, meloxicam (10mg/kg, ig). The treatment with PSAP (10-50mg/kg) caused inhibition in the neurogenic phase and reduced the paw oedema caused by intraplantar (ipl) injection of formalin. PSAP (1-50mg/kg) decreased the nociceptive response in the inflammatory phase of the formalin test and in licking behaviour triggered by glutamate at doses of 0.1-50mg/kg. The antinociceptive effect of PSAP (1mg/kg) was abolished when the animals were pre-treated with prazosin (α These results showed the antinociceptive action of PSAP in formalin and glutamate tests and the involvement of the dopaminergic and adrenergic systems in its antinociceptive activity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.1016/J.YFRNE.2021.100941
Abstract: Disordered eating is often associated with marked psychological and emotional distress, and severe adverse impact on quality of life. Several factors can influence eating behavior and drive food consumption in excess of energy requirements for homeostasis. It is well established that stress and negative affect contribute to the aetiology of eating disorders and weight gain, and there is substantial evidence suggesting sex differences in sub-clinical and clinical types of overeating. This review will examine how negative affect and stress shape eating behaviors, and how the relationship between the physiological, endocrine, and neural responses to stress and eating behaviors differs between men and women. We will examine several drivers of overeating and explore possible mechanisms underlying sex differences in eating behavior.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Roberta Goncalves Anversa.