Micro-opioid receptor agonist diminishes POMC gene expression and anorexia by central insulin in neonatal chicks.
Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus are direct targets of peripheral satiety signals, such as leptin and insulin in mammals. The stimulation of these signals activates hypothalamic POMC neurons and elevates POMC-derived melanocortin peptides that inhibit food intake in mammals. On the other hand, it has been recognized that beta-endorphin, a post-translational processing of POMC, acts in an autoreceptor manner to the micro-opioid receptor (MOR) on POMC neurons, diminishing POMC neuronal activity in mammals. Recently, we found that central insulin functions as an anorexic peptide in chicks. Thus, the present study was done to elucidate whether beta-endorphin affects the activation of POMC neurons by insulin in neonatal chicks. Consequently, quantitative real-time PCR analysis shows that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of insulin with beta-endorphin significantly decreases brain POMC mRNA expression when compared with insulin alone. In addition, co-injection of MOR agonist (beta-endorphin or [d-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO)) significantly attenuates insulin-induced hypophagia in chicks. These data suggest that beta-endorphin regulates the activity of the central melanocortin system, and its activation may provide an inhibitory feedback mechanism in the brain of neonatal chicks.
Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Physiology, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan.
Jun-Ichi
J
Shiraishi
Kouchi
K
Yanagita
Masanori
M
Fujita
Takashi
T
Bungo
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular / Q000379:methods; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin