title: TTF-1, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, regulates feeding behavior in the rat hypothalamus.
abstract: TTF-1 is a member of the NKx family of homeodomain genes, and is required for morphogenesis and fetal diencephalon development. Our previous studies have shown that TTF-1 expression is maintained in some regions of the postnatal rat brain and transactivates the gene expression of several neuropeptides. In this study, a potential role for TTF-1 in the regulation of feeding behavior was identified. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that TTF-1 is present in several hypothalamic nuclei of the adult rat brain involved in the control of feeding behavior. Food deprivation for two days markedly increased the hypothalamic levels of TTF-1 mRNA and protein. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense TTF-1 oligodeoxynucleotide significantly decreased TTF-1 protein abundance in the hypothalamus. This TTF-1 decrease was followed by a significant decrease in neuropeptide Y mRNA content and an increase in proopiomelanocortin mRNA content, and in turn resulted in a decrease of the animal's food intake and body weight. These results suggest a novel role for TTF-1 in the regulation of feeding behavior in the rat hypothalamus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Geun
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il Seong
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Nam-Goong
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jin Kwon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joong Jean
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; C000614416:Nkx2-1 protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin