title: Circulating ghrelin levels and central ghrelin receptor expression are elevated in response to food deprivation in a seasonal mammal (Phodopus sungorus).
abstract: Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). However, the functional interaction of ligand and receptor is not very well understood. We demonstrate that GHSR mRNA is up-regulated after food deprivation (48 h) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and ventromedial nucleus of the seasonal Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. This increase is accompanied by a two-fold elevation of circulating ghrelin concentration. Chronic changes in feeding state imposed by food restriction over a period of 12 weeks during long day-length induced increased GHSR gene expression, whereas food restriction for 6 weeks had no effect. Phodopus sungorus reveals remarkable seasonal changes in body weight, fat mass and circulating leptin levels. Ghrelin is generally regarded as having opposing effects on appetite and body weight with respect to those exhibited by leptin. However, our study revealed that seasonal adaptations were not accompanied by changes in either GHSR gene expression or circulating ghrelin concentration. Therefore, we suggest that ghrelin only plays a minor role in modulating long-term seasonal body weight cycles. Our findings imply that ghrelin predominantly acts as a short-term regulator of feeding.
authors.affiliation: Division of Energy Balance and Obesity, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen Centre for Energy Regulation and Obesity (ACERO), Aberdeen, UK. alextups@gmx.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tups
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helwig
authors.forename: R M H
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Khorooshi
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klingenspor
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mercer
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D017111:Phodopus; D017440:Photoperiod; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D012621:Seasons; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin