title: Neuropeptidergic characterization of the leptin receptor mutated obese Koletsky rat.
abstract: Leptin regulates energy homeostasis and reproduction as evidenced by dysfunctions characterized in several genetic models of leptin pathway deficiency, such as the ob/ob and db/db mice and fa/fa Zucker rat. An additional model, the obese (f/f) Koletsky rat with a nonsense leptin receptor mutation has not been fully characterized. These rats are obese, hyperphagic, diabetic, and infertile; however, little else is known about the effects of the mutation. We have characterized alterations in hypothalamic appetite regulating neuropeptides as well as energy expenditure, metabolic hormones, and the reproductive axis of obese f/f rats. As expected, obese rats of both sexes were hyperinsulinemic, hyperglycemic, and hyperleptinemic. They exhibited reduced uncoupling protein-1 mRNA expression in brown fat, indicating reduced energy expenditure. In addition, hypothalamic expression of orexigenic neuropeptide Y and agouti-related peptide mRNA levels was upregulated while the anorexigenic cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript and proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels were reduced. We also observed reproductive axis perturbations including reduced hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, serum estradiol and testosterone, and increased serum progesterone levels. In conclusion, obese Koletsky rats are phenotypically similar to other leptin pathway deficiency models with reduced energy expenditure and hypothalamic neuropeptidergic alterations that could account for their obesity and infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Box 100244, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keen Rhinehart
authors.forename: Satya P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Pushpa S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kalra
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000662:Amphetamines; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; C000604372:Ucp1 protein, mouse; C000604373:Ucp1 protein, rat; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000521:alpha-MSH; D003042:Cocaine