title: Changes in mRNA expression of arcuate nucleus appetite-regulating peptides during lactation in rats.
abstract: The contribution of hypothalamic appetite-regulating peptides to further hyperphagia accompanying the course of lactation in rats was investigated by using PCR array and real-time PCR. Furthermore, changes in the mRNA expression for appetite-regulating peptides in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) were analyzed at all stages of pregnancy and lactation, and also after weaning. Food intake was significantly higher during pregnancy, lactation, and after weaning than during non-lactation periods. During lactation, ARC expression of mRNAs for agouti-related protein (AgRP) and peptide YY was increased, whereas that of mRNAs for proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and cholecystokinin (CCK) was decreased, in comparison with non-lactation periods. The increase in AgRP mRNA expression during lactation was especially marked. The plasma level of leptin was significantly decreased during the course of lactation, whereas that of acyl-ghrelin was unchanged. In addition, food intake was negatively correlated with the plasma leptin level during lactation. This study has clarified synchronous changes in the expression of many appetite-regulating peptides in ARC of rats during lactation. Our results suggest that hyperphagia during lactation in rats is caused by decreases in POMC and CCK expression and increases in AgRP expression in ARC, the latter being most notable. Together with the decrease in the blood leptin level, such changes in mRNA expression may explain the further hyperphagia accompanying the course of lactation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Rieko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okame
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ensho
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000235:genetics*; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D020738:Leptin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D002766:Cholecystokinin
keywords: AgRP; C3; POMC; PYY; arcuate nucleus; hypothalamus; lactation; leptin