Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.

Obesity

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Endocrinologists at work: management of hyponatremia in clinical practice.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2023

Same author

Impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation on thyroid function.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2023

Same author

Benefits of dual-release hydrocortisone treatment on central adiposity and health-related quality of life in secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2022

Same author

Impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic dissemination on the management of neuroendocrine neoplasia in Italy: a report from the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (Itanet).

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2020

Same author

Reference ranges of late-night salivary cortisol and cortisone measured by LC-MS/MS and accuracy for the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2020

Same author

Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: current knowledge and open issues.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

Published on: May 14, 2018

GH/IGF-I axis in anorexia nervosa.

L Gianotti¹, F Lanfranco, J Ramunni

¹Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Italy. laura.gianotti@unito.it

Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD

|July 25, 2007

Summary

Anorexia nervosa (AN) causes endocrine issues, including altered growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis activity. Nutritional rehabilitation typically restores GH/IGF-I function, indicating it reflects the patient's nutritional status.

More Related Videos

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa

Published on: October 22, 2015

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Published on: May 8, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

Published on: May 14, 2018

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa

Published on: October 22, 2015

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Published on: May 8, 2018

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Neuroendocrinology
Nutritional Science

Background:

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with multiple endocrine abnormalities.
Key changes include hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothyroidism, and altered growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis activity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neuroendocrine alterations in the GH/IGF-I axis in patients with AN.
To determine if these alterations are primary to the disease or secondary to malnutrition.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on GH/IGF-I axis function in AN.
Analysis of neuroendocrine responses to various stimuli (GHRH, TRH, LHRH, glucose, cholinergic agents).
Consideration of the roles of leptin and ghrelin.

Main Results:

Patients with AN exhibit exaggerated GH secretion and reduced IGF-I levels, similar to other catabolic states.
GH hypersecretion appears linked to malnutrition-induced peripheral GH resistance and impaired IGF-I feedback.
Altered neural control of GH secretion, including enhanced somatotroph responsiveness and specific resistance to cholinergic stimuli, is observed.

Conclusions:

The GH/IGF-I axis abnormalities in AN are primarily a consequence of the impaired nutritional state.
These changes are generally reversible with nutritional rehabilitation and weight gain.
The GH/IGF-I axis dysfunction is not considered a primary hallmark of anorexia nervosa.