In a mouse model of anorexia, genes that control circadian rhythms are more disrupted in women than in men. This finding could explain the prevalence of this eating disorder among women, as well as some of the complications associated with it.
Anorexia nervosa is a multifactorial disease that predominantly affects the female population. In addition to its characteristic eating disorders, it disrupts numerous functions controlled by our circadian body clock: bowel movements, sleep, mood, hormone production… At the University of Rouen, Normandy, doctoral student Colin Salaun, under the supervision of Najate Achamra and So Moise Coffier wanted to know whether the regulation of our circadian rhythms changes in cases of anorexia. To this end, the researchers studied mice suffering from a disorder similar to human anorexia nervosa. Their work confirms that these animals have impaired expression of genes that control the body’s internal clock.
🔎 Learn more about our internal clock and the body’s circadian rhythm.
The observed modifications concern both central clock genes at the cerebral level and peripheral clock genes at the gastrointestinal level. However, there are significant differences in the observations made in male and female mice: variations in the expression of central clock genes are generally less intense in males, and changes affecting gut clock genes are not limited to females.
These observations obviously need to be confirmed and tested in humans. But if this is true, they could help explain the prevalence of anorexia nervosa in the female population.
The role of the intestinal microbiota?
Gut bacteria may also play a role in this deregulation. Indeed, the same study found that the composition of the microbiota changes more significantly in female animal models of anorexia than in males. ” It remains to be determined whether changes in gut bacterial composition are a cause or a consequence of anorexia. “, comments Moise Coffier. Unless it’s just a supporting role: ” When we eliminate the microbiota of mice using antibiotics, the psychological and hormonal complications associated with this model of anorexia are less severe than in those that retain their microbiota. In other words, gut bacteria play a role in communication between the gut and the brain, as has already been noted in other pathologies. “, he continues. In addition, this work describes the circadian evolution of the composition of the gut microbiota in mice of both sexes: ” It would be interesting to determine whether fluctuations in the abundance of certain bacteria throughout the day coincide with changes in the central and/or intestinal circadian rhythm. »
Moise Coffier and his team are now developing a mouse model of compulsive overeating. As with anorexia, this will assess whether deregulation of internal clock genes associated with the clinical manifestations of this other eating disorder occurs. As for the study of anorexia, researchers want to continue it by increasing knowledge about the nature of the relationships between central circadian rhythm disturbances and the areas of the brain that control eating behavior. Their hypothesis is that the latter disrupted cellular energy production. Therefore, they want to evaluate, in the context of anorexia, the influence of central clock genes on mitochondriathese organelles which are the main energy suppliers for our cells.
Moïse Coffier leads the Nutrition, Inflammation and Microbiota-Gut-Brain Research Unit (ADEN Unit 1073). Insert/University of Rouen, Normandy).
Source : K. Salaun et al. Sex-dependent circadian changes in both central and peripheral clock gene expression and gut microbiota composition during activity-related anorexia in mice. Biol Sex is different, January 2024; doi:10.1186/s13293-023–00576‑x
Author: K.G.
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