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Impaired brain endocannabinoid tone in the activity-based model of anorexia nervosa

Roberto Collu, Maria Scherma, Fabiana Piscitelli, Elisa Giunti, Valentina Satta, M Paola Castelli, Roberta Verde, Walter Fratta, Tiziana Bisogno, Paola Fadda. Int J Eat Disord. 2019 Nov;52(11):1251-1262.

Laboratory studyOther animals

Design
Laboratory study
Subjects
Female rats in the activity-based anorexia model; numbers not stated in the abstract
Dose used in the study
No palmitoylethanolamide was given; brain levels were measured
Duration
Measured at the end of induction and after recovery
What was measured
Anandamide, 2-AG, oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide levels and CB1 receptor density in prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus.

What the authors reported

The study found:

  • At the end of induction 2-AG was reduced in most regions.
  • Anandamide was unchanged, while oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide were reduced only in hippocampus and hypothalamus.
  • CB1 density fell in the dentate gyrus and lateral hypothalamus.
  • After recovery 2-AG and CB1 partly normalised but anandamide became markedly reduced in all regions.

Limits of this study

A rat model measuring endogenous levels; no PEA was given and it cannot show effect in people. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.

Source

PubMed 31456239 · doi:10.1002/eat.23157

Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.