Photoperiodic regulation of leptin resistance in the seasonally breeding Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).
Seasonal Siberian hamsters lose fat reserves, decrease body weight and leptin concentrations, and suppress reproduction on short-day photoperiod (SD). Chronic leptin infusion at physiological doses caused body weight and fat loss in SD animals but was ineffective in long-day (LD) hamsters. Using ovariectomized estrogen-treated females, we tested the hypothesis that responsiveness to leptin is regulated by photoperiod. On SD, hypothalamic neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript gene expression in the arcuate nucleus did not exhibit significant changes, and despite SD-induced fat loss, the catabolic peptide proopiomelanocortin was down-regulated. Food restriction of LD-housed animals caused significant reduction of fat reserves and serum leptin concentrations to SD levels, suppressed serum gonadotropins, and induced increased anabolic (neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide) and decreased catabolic (proopiomelanocortin, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) gene expression in the arcuate nucleus. Leptin infusion in food-restricted animals had no effect on fat reserves or gonadotropins and did not modulate neuropeptide gene expression. Also, leptin treatment did not blunt the refeeding responses or weight and fat gain in LD-housed food-restricted animals. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that hypothalamic responses to leptin are regulated primarily by photoperiod, rather than seasonal changes in fat reserves, sex steroids, or leptin concentrations.
School of Biological Sciences, Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
Karine
K
Rousseau
Zeenat
Z
Atcha
Felino Ramon A
FR
Cagampang
Philippe
P
Le Rouzic
J Anne
JA
Stirland
Tina R
TR
Ivanov
Francis J P
FJ
Ebling
Martin
M
Klingenspor
Andrew S I
AS
Loudon
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001947:Breeding; D006224:Cricetinae; D004351:Drug Resistance; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics; D017440:Photoperiod; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011506:Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone