Social defeat increases food intake, body mass, and adiposity in Syrian hamsters

• DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00437.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-12-23T01:48:39Z
• Authors: Michelle T. Foster; Matia B. Solomon; Kim L. Huhman; Timothy J. Bartness
• Keywords: Overeating; Social defeat; Mesocricetus

Overeating and increases in body fat mass are the most common responses to day-to-day stress humans, whereas stressed laboratory rats mice respond oppositely. Group housing of Syrian hamsters mass, adiposity, food intake, perhaps due social confrontation-induced stress. In experiment 1 we asked, Does repeated defeat increase white adipose tissue (WAT) hamsters? Male subjected resident-intruder interaction model defeated intermittently 15 times over 34 days for 7-min sessions significantly increased their WAT masses compared with nondefeated controls. Defeat terminal adrenal norepinephrine, but not epinephrine, content. 2 Are intermittent interactions necessary intake? Body intake subordinate only once were similar those controls, four or eight defeats similarly these responses. 3 Do adiposity more than consecutive defeats? Four all masses. Consecutive mesenteric inguinal Plasma leptin, insulin, concentrations Collectively, defeat, a natural stressor, may prove useful determining mechanisms underlying human stress-induced obesity.