Diet-induced changes in hypothalamic pro-opio-melanocortin mRNA in the rat hypothalamus.
Hypothalamic mRNA and peptide levels of pro-opio-melanocortin (POMC) and other neuropeptides were studied in rats that either develop obesity (diet-induced obese, DIO), when fed a palatable and hypercaloric diet (cafeteria diet, caf) or do not develop obesity (diet resistant, DR), when fed the same diet. cafDIO rats showed a significant increase in POMC, but not in melanin concentrating hormone, mRNA levels as determined by semiquantitative in situ hybridization. cafDR and cafDIO rats showed no change in POMC-derived peptide levels, whereas neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity was significantly increased in cafDR rats. POMC mRNA levels were also studied in high-fat diet-fed rats but no significant change was observed. Altered hypothalamic transmission by POMC-derived peptides may contribute to the susceptibility of cafDIO rats to the weight promoting action of caf diet.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Physiology and Centro di Nutrizione Clinica e Malattie Metaboliche, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 287, 41100, Modena, Italy.
Carla
C
Torri
Patrizia
P
Pedrazzi
Giuseppina
G
Leo
Eugenio E
EE
Müller
Daniela
D
Cocchi
Luigi F
LF
Agnati
Michele
M
Zoli
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005223:Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D005223:Fats; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin