title: Agouti-related protein in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: effect on feeding.
abstract: Agouti-related protein (Agrp) is an endogenous melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist implicated in the regulation of food intake. Effects of Agrp on feeding under varying conditions were investigated. Agrp (10 to 100 pmol) was injected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of satiated (a.m. and p.m. injections) and food-deprived rats, or was co-administered with 117 pmol Neuropeptide Y (NPY). Agrp significantly stimulated light-phase feeding by 24 h post-injection. However, Agrp stimulated dark-phase and deprivation-induced feeding by 4 and 2 h, respectively. Animals receiving NPY and Agrp consumed more than animals receiving either peptide alone, the effect remaining by 24 h.
authors.affiliation: V.A. Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Giraudo
mesh_terms: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D017440:Photoperiod; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: C515197:AGRP protein, rat; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011506:Proteins; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D018000:Receptors, Peptide