ESPE Abstracts

Diseases of food restriction, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, are psychiatric conditions with the highest mortality. It is not known how these disorders emerge and what determine mortality. Individuals with these disorders frequently engage in compulsive exercise. States of food restriction are associated with elevated activity of hypothalamic neurons that produce AgRP, which cells are crucial for feeding and can promote stereotypic behaviors.Here,...

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by severe hypophagia, high levels of physical activity, harsh weight loss and an intense fear of weight gain. It has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric illnesses and, due to the unknown underlying neurobiology, it is challenging to treat. Agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons, which are localized in the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus, are both necessary and sufficient or feeding in adult animals. To uncov...

As marijuana use during adolescence has been increasing, the need to understand the effects of its long-term use becomes crucial. Previous research suggested that marijuana consumption during adolescence increases the risk of developing mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Ghrelin is a peptide produced primarily in the gut and is important for feeding behavior. Ghrelin and its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) play important...