Oxytocin receptor-deficient mice developed late-onset obesity.
The oxytocin receptor has been suggested to be involved in energy metabolism, such as food intake and energy consumption. Here, we demonstrate that oxytocin receptor-deficient (Oxtr-/-) male mice exhibited late-onset obesity with increases in abdominal fat pads and fasting plasma triglycerides. Daily food intake and spontaneous motor activity of Oxtr-/- mice were not significantly different as compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, brown adipose tissue in Oxtr-/- mice contained large lipid droplets and cold-induced thermogenesis was impaired. This study demonstrates that oxytocin receptor plays essential roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Takayanagi
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kasahara
Tatsushi
T
Onaka
Nobuyuki
N
Takahashi
Teruo
T
Kawada
Katsuhiko
K
Nishimori
D052437:Adipocytes, Brown / Q000473:pathology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000172:deficiency*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol