title: Study on the expression of c-Fos protein in the brain of rats after ingestion of food rich in lycopene.
abstract: Lycopene, a reddish pigment contained in tomato, belongs to the carotenoid family along with beta-carotene and rutein. This study examined whether administration of lycopene to rats would induce excitation of neurons in the central nervous system. Continuous intake of lycopene-rich food was found to induce accumulation of lycopene in the plasma and liver, and stimulated central neurons in the paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, which are known to be involved in the functions of athrocytosis and water drinking. These findings suggest that lycopene may have some influence on feeding and water-drinking behaviors.
authors: Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University School of Health Science, 3-39-15 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8514, Japan. takayama@health.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors: Kiyoshige
authors: K
authors: Takayama
authors: Eri
authors: E
authors: Nishiko
authors: Gaku
authors: G
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Inakuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene