Inhibition of feeding by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor: effects of aging.
Nitric oxide has been demonstrated to play a role in the modulation of food intake. With advancing age, there is a physiological decrease in food intake. The effect of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on food intake in C57BL/6Nnia mice aged 3, 12 and 24 months was studied. L-NAME was more effective at decreasing food intake in 12- and 24-month-old mice than in the 3-month-old mice. NO synthase levels in the hypothalamus were increased in 16- and 25-month-old mice compared to 6-month-old mice (P < 0.01). NO synthase mRNA increased in 16- compared to 6-month-old mice, but decreased in 25-month-old mice. Overall, these studies may suggest that nitric oxide may play an increasingly important role in the feeding drive with advancing age.
Morley
J E
JE
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, St. Louis VA Medical Center, MO, USA.
Kumar
V B
VB
Mattammal
M B
MB
Farr
S
S
Morley
P M
PM
Flood
J F
JF
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D012260:Ribonucleases; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester