Involvement of <i>Bdnf</i>, <i>Ntrk2</i> and <i>Pi3k</i> in the mechanism of binge eating after psychogenic stressors in ontogenesis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The study of the neurochemical mechanisms of food addiction provides experimental modeling of some of its clinical manifestations. AIM: This study aimed to examine the effect of binge eating after maternal deprivation or after rearing in social isolation on the expression of Bdnf, Ntrk2, and Pi3k in the hypothalamus of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals aged 2–12 days were weaned from their mother for 10 days at 180 min, and males aged 90–100 days were used in the experiments. Another group of animals was reared in individual cages from day 21 after birth, and males aged 90–100 days were used in the experiments. To induce binge eating, the animals received a high-carbohydrate feed (chocolate spread) for 1 h every day or every third day within 30 days. Fifteen minutes before feeding, the paste was placed 5 cm within visual contact. RESULTS: In groups with intermittent exposure to high-calorie food (the animals received pasta every third day), polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the expression of the Bdnf, Ntrk2, and Pi3k in the hypothalamus. The expression level of Bdnf was higher in the maternal deprivation group than in the control group. The expression levels of Ntrk2 and Pi3k in rats taking a high-carbohydrate feed were higher in animals reared in isolation than in those reared in the community. CONCLUSIONS: The results present new pathways for the synthesis of peptide drugs associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway for the correction of food addiction caused by psychogenic stress in ontogenesis.