Rat uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2): expression in obese ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)-lesioned animals.
BACKGROUND
The family of uncoupling proteins is thought to play an important role in the regulation of energy metabolism by uncoupling the respiratory chain reactions from ATP synthesis. The recently discovered uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is upregulated in genetically obese rodent models and during long term high fat feeding.


OBJECTIVE
We have examined the UCP2 mRNA levels in liver, heart and white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)-lesioned rats, during the dynamic and the early stage of the static phase of obesity, before the appearance of most of the metabolic perturbations associated with long term established obesity.


RESULTS
The amount of UCP2 mRNA was not increased in any tissue of VMH-lesioned rats relative to control animals during the dynamic phase nor during the early static phase of obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that in the rat, obesity does not necessarily lead to an increase in UCP2 expression and suggest that the up-regulation of UCP2 described in other models may be secondary to metabolic perturbations, rather than to a direct adaptative response to the increased adipose tissue content of the organism.
Strobel
A
A
Laboratoire d'Immuno-Pharmacologie Moléculaire, Institut Cochin de Génétique Moléculaire, Paris, France.
Combettes-Souverain
M
M
Doaré
L
L
Strosberg
A D
AD
Issad
T
T
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D015430:Weight Gain
D007473:Ion Channels; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2