Expression of c-Fos protein in the brain after intravenous injection of ghrelin in rats.
In this study, we surveyed central neurons that might be activated after peripheral administration of a gut-brain peptide ghrelin, by examining neurons expressing c-Fos protein. First, we examined the relationship between the dose of ghrelin and the amount of gastric acid secreted. Ghrelin induced a significant increase in the amount of gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Secondly, we examined central neurons that expressed c-Fos protein after intravenous injection of ghrelin. We found that intravenously injected ghrelin induced the neural expression of c-Fos protein in several nuclei and circumventricular organs in the brain. These results suggest that ghrelin released into the circulation may stimulate central neurons that have some role in the control mechanism for gastric acid secretion.
Takayama
Kiyoshige
K
Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University School of Health Sciences, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma 371-8514, Japan. takayama@health.gunma-u.ac.jp
Johno
Yukimi
Y
Hayashi
Kaori
K
Yakabi
Koji
K
Tanaka
Teruyuki
T
Ro
Shoki
S
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D031608:Area Postrema / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D054439:Ghrelin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013356:Subfornical Organ / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos