The role of BDNF, leptin, and catecholamines in reward learning in bulimia nervosa.
- Homan P Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang). homan@puk.unibe.ch.
- Grob S Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- Milos G Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- Schnyder U Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- Eckert A Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- Lang U Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- Hasler G Department of Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland (Drs Homan and Hasler); Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland (Dr Grob, Drs Milos and Schnyder); Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Eckert); Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Switzerland (Dr Lang).
- 2014-12-19
Published in:
- The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology. - 2014
BDNF
alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine
bulimia nervosa
catecholamines
leptin
reward
Adult
Association Learning
Body Mass Index
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Bulimia Nervosa
Catecholamines
Cross-Over Studies
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Leptin
Neuropsychological Tests
Random Allocation
Reward
Young Adult
alpha-Methyltyrosine
English
BACKGROUND
A relationship between bulimia nervosa and reward-related behavior is supported by several lines of evidence. The dopaminergic dysfunctions in the processing of reward-related stimuli have been shown to be modulated by the neurotrophin brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the hormone leptin.
METHODS
Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, a reward learning task was applied to study the behavior of 20 female subjects with remitted bulimia nervosa and 27 female healthy controls under placebo and catecholamine depletion with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT). The plasma levels of BDNF and leptin were measured twice during the placebo and the AMPT condition, immediately before and 1 hour after a standardized breakfast.
RESULTS
AMPT-induced differences in plasma BDNF levels were positively correlated with the AMPT-induced differences in reward learning in the whole sample (P=.05). Across conditions, plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor levels were higher in remitted bulimia nervosa subjects compared with controls (diagnosis effect; P=.001). Plasma BDNF and leptin levels were higher in the morning before compared with after a standardized breakfast across groups and conditions (time effect; P<.0001). The plasma leptin levels were higher under catecholamine depletion compared with placebo in the whole sample (treatment effect; P=.0004).
CONCLUSIONS
This study reports on preliminary findings that suggest a catecholamine-dependent association of plasma BDNF and reward learning in subjects with remitted bulimia nervosa and controls. A role of leptin in reward learning is not supported by this study. However, leptin levels were sensitive to a depletion of catecholamine stores in both remitted bulimia nervosa and controls.
A relationship between bulimia nervosa and reward-related behavior is supported by several lines of evidence. The dopaminergic dysfunctions in the processing of reward-related stimuli have been shown to be modulated by the neurotrophin brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the hormone leptin.
METHODS
Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, a reward learning task was applied to study the behavior of 20 female subjects with remitted bulimia nervosa and 27 female healthy controls under placebo and catecholamine depletion with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT). The plasma levels of BDNF and leptin were measured twice during the placebo and the AMPT condition, immediately before and 1 hour after a standardized breakfast.
RESULTS
AMPT-induced differences in plasma BDNF levels were positively correlated with the AMPT-induced differences in reward learning in the whole sample (P=.05). Across conditions, plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor levels were higher in remitted bulimia nervosa subjects compared with controls (diagnosis effect; P=.001). Plasma BDNF and leptin levels were higher in the morning before compared with after a standardized breakfast across groups and conditions (time effect; P<.0001). The plasma leptin levels were higher under catecholamine depletion compared with placebo in the whole sample (treatment effect; P=.0004).
CONCLUSIONS
This study reports on preliminary findings that suggest a catecholamine-dependent association of plasma BDNF and reward learning in subjects with remitted bulimia nervosa and controls. A role of leptin in reward learning is not supported by this study. However, leptin levels were sensitive to a depletion of catecholamine stores in both remitted bulimia nervosa and controls.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- hybrid
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1093/ijnp/pyu092
- PMID 25522424
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.rero.ch/global/documents/155185
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