Thin sows may help research in human anorexia
Thin sows may help research in human anorexia
PIGS could help scientists speed up research into drugs for treating human eating disorders.
According to vets, consumer preference for lean meat means more pigs are becoming anorexic and are suffering from thin sow syndrome.
Breeding programmes producing pigs which are lean also tend to produce pigs prone to symptoms resembling anorexia nervosa, say University of Wales researchers in this weeks New Scientist.
Scientists say selective breeding has uncovered recessive genetic traits which produce extremes. These pigs may have mutations in a gene responsible for a receptor which regulates the flow of calcium ions across cell membranes. These mutations are linked to leanness and susceptibility to stress.
So far, only a small percentage of pigs appear to be affected, but researchers suspect the condition may be becoming more common.
Researchers dealing with human eating disorders believe pigs – which have similar body weights and digestive systems to humans – may provide a valuable insight into these diseases.
They also suggest that thin pigs could be used to test new drugs for treating anorexia. *