Neuroscience Faculty

Physiological and neural control of ingestive behavior; the effects of gonadal hormones on food intake and body weight regulation; activity-based anorexia; obesity; sex differences in behavior; conditioned taste aversion learning.

Currently, there are two ongoing research programs in my laboratory. The first project investigates the mechanism underlying estradiol's ability to control food intake and regulate body weight in female rodents. To study this problem, we use an integrated approach involving behavioral, physiological, pharmacological, and molecular techniques. The interaction between estrogen and neuropeptides is of particular interest. A second project investigates the changes in neuropeptide secretion associated with activity-based anorexia, an animal model of anorexia nervosa. We are also interested in identifying behavioral patterns in rats that might increase the risk of developing activity-based anorexia.

Atchley, D.P.D. & Eckel, L.A. (2005). Fenfluramine treatment in female rats accelerates the weight loss associated with activity- based anorexia. Pharm. Biochem. Behav., 80, 273-279.
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Atchley, D.P.D., Weaver, K.L., & Eckel, L.A. (2005). Taste responses to dilute sucrose solutions are modulated by stage of the estrous cycle and fenfluramine treatment in female rats. Physiology and Behavior, in press.

Becker, J.B., Arnold, A., Berkley, K.J., Blaustein, J.D., Eckel, L.A., Hampson, E., Herman, J.P., Marts, S., Safee, W., Steiner, M., Taylor, J., & Young, E. (2005). Strategies and methods for research on sex differences in brain and behavior. Endocrinology, 146, 1650-1673.
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Eckel, L.A., Rivera, H.M., & Atchley, D.P.D. (2005). The anorectic effect of fenfluramine is influenced by sex and stage of the estrous cycle in female rats. American Journal of Physiology (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol.), in press.
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Rivera, H.M., & Eckel, L.A. (2005). The anorectic effect of fenfluramine is increased by estradiol treatment in ovariectomized rats. Physiology and Behavior, in press.

Eckel, L.A. (2004). Estradiol: a rhythmic, inhibitory, indirect control of meal size. Physiology and Behavior, 82, 35-41.
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Eckel, L.A. & Moore, S.R. (2004). Diet-induced hyperphagia in the rat is influenced by sex and exercise. American Journal of Physiology 287 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol.), R1080-R1085.
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Dixon, D.P., Ackert, A.M., & Eckel, L.A. (2003). Development of, and recovery from, activity-based anorexia in female rats. Physiology and Behavior, 80, 273-279.
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