title: ARC POMC mRNA and PVN alpha-MSH are lower in obese relative to lean zucker rats.
abstract: Effects of obesity on gene expression for opioid peptides and neuropeptide-Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and on opioid peptides and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were examined in obese Zucker rats (18 weeks old). Obese Zucker rats are insulin-resistant, diabetic and hyperleptinemic as indicated by high serum glucose, insulin and leptin levels. ARC proOpiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA levels were significantly lower in the obese relative to lean Zucker rats and ARC proNeuropeptide Y (proNPY) mRNA levels were higher (P<0.05). There were no differences in proDynorphin and proEnkephalin mRNA levels in the ARC (0.05). Obese Zucker rats had lower alpha-MSH and dynorphin A(1-17) peptide levels in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) (P<0.05), but did not have lower PVN beta-endorphin peptide levels (0.05). The decrease in POMC in the ARC and decrease in alpha-MSH in the PVN seen in the obese Zucker rat in the present study suggest that reduced activity of the melanocortin system in the ARC to PVN pathway may contribute to the related hyperphagia. Reduced activity of the melanocortin system in the ARC to PVN pathway may be due to a disturbance of leptin signaling coupling to POMC.
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Obesity Center and Research Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000235:genetics; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000235:genetics*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004745:Enkephalins; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029992:proenkephalin; C081158:proneuropeptide Y; D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D004399:Dynorphins; C033660:preproenkephalin