INTRIGUING LINKS BETWEEN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Objective: The aim of this review is to examine the literature on poss ible animal models for anorexia nervosa. Method: The literature was se arched using MedLine, PSYCHLIT, and CAB Abstracts using search items t hat included body composition, thin sow syndrome, and halothane gene. in addition, key workers in the field of animal husbandry and body com position were sent earlier drafts of the paper for comment Results: Th in sow syndrome in pigs has some similarities to anorexia nervosa. Lea nness and susceptibility to stress are associated in pigs with mutatio ns of the ryanodine gene. Body composition in animals has a high herit ability and various components of this overall composite trait are inf luenced to a major extent by polymorphism at specific gene loci. Discu ssion: Recent developments in understanding body composition in animal s offer intriguing insights into anorexia nervosa and suggest several candidate genes which would be worthy of further examination. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.