title: A beta3-adrenergic-leptin-melanocortin circuit regulates behavioral and metabolic changes induced by chronic stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of developing several psychiatric illnesses, including major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Likewise, these stress-related disturbances are associated with a higher rate of obesity; yet, the neurobiological mechanisms linking obesity and stress remain incompletely understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following exposure to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), mice were given free access to either regular chow or a Western-style diet high in triglycerides and cholesterol. Comprehensive metabolic and behavioral testing was then conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice subjected to CSDS and then fed a high-fat diet for 30 days display severe behavioral deficits accompanied by redistribution of body fat. Stressed mice have decreased adipose tissue as well as decreased serum leptin levels compared with control mice. Pharmacological inhibition of beta(3)-adrenergic signaling during CSDS normalizes these metabolic abnormalities but worsens behavioral symptoms. Furthermore, mice subjected to CSDS display central leptin resistance including reduced expression of pro-opiomelanocortin in hypothalamus. Administration of a central melanocortin agonist worsens stress-induced behavioral deficits, while mice lacking the melanocortin-4 receptor display attenuated symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that chronic signaling through beta(3)-adrenergic receptors during social stress is an adaptive response that improves behavioral function. However, these responses come at the expense of central leptin resistance and melanocortin signaling alterations that contribute to significant and long-lasting metabolic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hypothalamic Research), The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jen-Chieh
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Vaishnav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Hana G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Huxing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Huixing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zigman
authors.forename: Joel K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Elmquist
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nestler
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutter
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D053486:Melanocortins; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3