Feeding induced changes in the hypothalamic transcriptome.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a complex multifactorial disorder which needs a comprehensive approach for prevention and treatment. We investigated the modifications in the hypothalamic gene expression induced by high-fat (HF) and low-fat (LF) meal ingestion in mice, in order to identify the signals rapidly mediating the hypothalamic control on energy intake.


METHODS
After fasting, 1 group of mice was sacrificed and the others were fed ad libitum with HF or LF diet, and sacrificed 3 h after the beginning of the meal. The hypothalamus was sampled and the serial analysis of gene expression method was performed.


RESULTS
Approximately 254,588 tags, which correspond to 65,548 tag species were isolated from the 3 groups. The data showed twelve transcripts regulated by food intake. Among these, 2 transcripts have mitochondrial functions (MtCo1, Ppid), 3 are involved in protein transport and regulation (Ube2q2, Mup1, Sec13), 1 in cellular pH control (Slc4a3) and another 1 has a role in the epigenetic control of gene expression (Setd3). In addition, 5 potentially novel transcripts were differentially modulated.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified genes that may regulate hypothalamic circuits governing the early response to food intake. 3 genes were specifically modulated by high-fat intake.
De Giorgio
Maria Rita
MR
Functional Genomics Laboratory, Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Laval University Medical Center and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
Yoshioka
Mayumi
M
St-Amand
Jonny
J
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating; D005215:Fasting; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004041:Dietary Fats