title: Opioid peptides and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice during development.
abstract: Compared to littermate controls (C57BL/6J ob/?), body weights of genetically obese (ob/ob) mice are significantly higher at 1-6 months of age; the greatest percentage weight gain of the ob/ob group occurs during the first 3 months of life. Levels of pituitary immunoreactive beta-endorphin and immunoreactive alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone are also significantly elevated in ob/ob animals compared to controls. However, these pharmacological differences only emerge at 4-6 months of age--3 months after the appearance of obesity. High levels of immunoreactive endorphin in the pituitary are, therefore, more likely to be a consequence than a cause of obesity. Furthermore, numerous other neurologic abnormalities, which may or may not play a role in the obesity syndrome, are evident in ob/ob mice. Compared to controls, ob/ob total brain, hypothalamus, and pituitary weights are 11%, 16%, and 23% less, respectively. Levels of immunoreactive Leu5-enkephalin in pars nervous are also 200% higher in ob/ob mice; this increase is apparent at 1-6 months of age and is highly correlated with changes in body weight.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009929:Organ Size; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones