Could reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) galanin contribute to restricted eating in anorexia nervosa?

Galanin (GAL) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) are orexigenic neuropepti des that could contribute to the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN). To avoid the confounding effects of the ill state, we studied women who were r ecovered (> 1 year, normal weight, and regular menstrual cycles, no bingein g or purging) from AN (REC AN) and matched healthy control women (NC). CSF GAL was reduced in REC AN (64.4 +/- 8.6 pg/ml) compared to NC (72.0 +/- 11. 6 pg/ml; p < .05), GABA was similar between groups. In the brain, GAL stimu lates appetite and fat consumption. These data raise the question of whethe r alterations in brain GAL activity plays a role in clinical symptoms in AN , such as food restriction and fat avoidance. (C) 2001 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.