This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Martin, B. Articles by Mattson, M. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Martin, B. Articles by Mattson, M. P.

Sex-Dependent Metabolic, Neuroendocrine, and Cognitive Responses to Dietary Energy Restriction and Excess

Laboratory of Neurosciences (B.M., M.P., L.K., E.G., A.K., M.B., S.M., M.P.M.), Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (O.C., J.E.), Gene Expression and Genomics Unit (K.G.B., W.W., P.V.), Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology (K.D.), National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Branch (B.L., J.-L.C.), National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224; Department of Neuroscience (M.P.M.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205; and MedStar Research Institute (S.M.), Harbor Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21225

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Bronwen Martin, National Institute on Aging, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224. E-mail: martinbro{at}grc.nia.nih.gov.

Females and males typically play different roles in survival of the species and would be expected to respond differently to food scarcity or excess. To elucidate the physiological basis of sex differences in responses to energy intake, we maintained groups of male and female rats for 6 months on diets with usual, reduced [20% and 40% caloric restriction (CR), and intermittent fasting (IF)], or elevated (high-fat/high-glucose) energy levels and measured multiple physiological variables related to reproduction, energy metabolism, and behavior. In response to 40% CR, females became emaciated, ceased cycling, underwent endocrine masculinization, exhibited a heightened stress response, increased their spontaneous activity, improved their learning and memory, and maintained elevated levels of circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In contrast, males on 40% CR maintained a higher body weight than the 40% CR females and did not change their activity levels as significantly as the 40% CR females. Additionally, there was no significant change in the cognitive ability of the males on the 40% CR diet. Males and females exhibited similar responses of circulating lipids (cholesterols/triglycerides) and energy-regulating hormones (insulin, leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin) to energy restriction, with the changes being quantitatively greater in males. The high-fat/high-glucose diet had no significant effects on most variables measured but adversely affected the reproductive cycle in females. Heightened cognition and motor activity, combined with reproductive shutdown, in females may maximize the probability of their survival during periods of energy scarcity and may be an evolutionary basis for the vulnerability of women to anorexia nervosa.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A I Martin, E Castillero, M Granado, M Lopez-Menduina, M A Villanua, and A Lopez-Calderon Adipose tissue loss in adjuvant arthritis is associated with a decrease in lipogenesis, but not with an increase in lipolysis J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 197(1): 111 - 119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Lutter, V. Krishnan, S. J. Russo, S. Jung, C. A. McClung, and E. J. Nestler Orexin Signaling Mediates the Antidepressant-Like Effect of Calorie Restriction J. Neurosci., March 19, 2008; 28(12): 3071 - 3075. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]