title: Effects of visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT on feeding behaviour and hypothalamic neuromodulators in the rat.
abstract: Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF) or nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), is a cytokine that is produced by adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver and immune cells. We studied the effects of visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT on feeding behavior, hypothalamic steady state concentrations of aminergic neurotransmitters and hypothalamic mRNA levels of anorexigenic peptides, such as cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and orexigenic peptides, such as agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Forty-eight rats were injected in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus with either saline or visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT (3 microg). Food intake was recorded 1, 2 and 24 h following injection, and either dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) or peptide gene expression were evaluated 2 and 24 h after visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT administration. Compared to vehicle, visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT significantly increased food intake, as evaluated 1, 2 and 24 h post-injection. Visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT treatment led to a significant decrease of DA steady state concentration, CART and CRH mRNA levels. Consequently, visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT could play an orexigenic role in the ARC, and the effect could be mediated by modulation of DA, CART and CRH activity in the hypothalamus.
authors: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Brunetti
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Recinella
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Di Nisio
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chiavaroli
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Leone
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ferrante
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Orlando
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vacca
mesh_terms: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: C515197:AGRP protein, rat; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D004298:Dopamine