Association of the suckling-weaning transition with development of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus neurons in rat pups.
Feeding behavior is regulated by feeding-related peptides in the hypothalamus. The neurons of the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which produces feeding-related peptides, develop and function by three weeks of age in rodents. Because rodents are weaned at three weeks, we studied whether the process of weaning is involved in the development of ARC neurons using monosodium glutamate. Rat pups injected neonatally with monosodium glutamate ingested a large amount of mother's milk at weaning. Monosodium glutamate treatment induced a decrease in the number of ARC cells and mRNA levels of neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein in the hypothalamus. The alteration of milk consumption following monosodium glutamate treatment appears to cause failure of ARC neuron development and neuropeptide expression.
Miyata
Tohru
T
Department of Bioresource Science, College of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
Minai
Yuji
Y
Haga
Minoru
M
D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014886:Weaning
C515197:AGRP protein, rat; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D005503:Food Additives; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012970:Sodium Glutamate