Evidence of altered neuropeptide Y content and neuropeptide Y1 receptor gene expression in the hypothalamus of pregnant transgenic mice.
Alterations in the density of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive fibers and of NPY1 receptor gene expression in the hypothalamus of Y1R/LacZ transgenic pregnant mice were investigated. In the paraventricular nucleus of mice on the 18th d of pregnancy NPY immunoreactivity was significantly decreased, and NPY1 receptor gene expression, as measured by histochemical staining of beta-galactosidase and in situ hybridization of NPY1 receptor mRNA, was significantly increased compared with those in estrous mice. Conversely, pregnant transgenic mice displayed a significant induction of NPY immunoreactivity and a reduction of NPY1 receptor gene expression in the ventromedial nucleus. A significant increase in Y1R/LacZ transgene expression and NPY1 receptor mRNA, but no changes in NPY immunoreactivity were observed in the arcuate nucleus of mice on the 18th d of pregnancy. These results suggest that the elevated expression of NPY in the ventromedial nucleus may contribute to the state of leptin resistance that occurs during pregnancy.
Oberto
Alessandra
A
Pharmacology Section, Department of Anatomy, Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine, University of Turin, 13-10125 Turin, Italy.
Mele
Paolo
P
Zammaretti
Francesca
F
Panzica
GianCarlo
G
Eva
Carola
C
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; C097212:neuropeptide Y-Y1 receptor; D001616:beta-Galactosidase