Effects of energy status and diet on Bdnf expression in the ventromedial hypothalamus of male and female rats.
Sex differences exist in the regulation of energy homeostasis in response to calorie scarcity or excess. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the anorexigenic neuropeptides regulating energy homeostasis. Expression of Bdnf mRNA in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) is closely associated with energy and reproductive status. We hypothesized that Bdnf expression in the VMH was differentially regulated by altered energy balance in male and female rats. Using dietary intervention, including fasting-induced negative energy status and high-fat diet (HFD) feeding-induced positive energy status, along with low-fat diet (LFD) feeding and HFD pair-feeding (HFD-PF), effects of diets and changes in energy status on VMH Bdnf expression were compared between male and female rats. Fasted males but not females had lower VMH Bdnf expression than their fed counterparts following 24-hour fasting, suggesting that fasted males reduced Bdnf expression to drive hyperphagia and body weight gain. Male HFD obese and HFD-PF non-obese rats had similarly reduced expression of Bdnf compared with LFD males, indicating that dampened Bdnf expression was associated with feeding a diet high in fat instead of increased adiposity. Decreased BDNF signaling during HFD feeding would increase a drive to eat and may contribute to diet-induced obesity in males. In contrast, VMH Bdnf expression was stably maintained in females when energy homeostasis was disturbed. These results suggest sex-distinct regulation of central Bdnf expression by diet and energy status.
Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology, Miami University, OH, United States.
Xian
X
Liu
Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Miami University, OH, United States; Department of Statistics, Miami University, OH, United States.
Zheng
Z
Zhu
Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Miami University, OH, United States.
Manu
M
Kalyani
Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology, Miami University, OH, United States; Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Miami University, OH, United States.
James M
JM
Janik
Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology, Miami University, OH, United States; Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Miami University, OH, United States. Electronic address: shih@miamioh.edu.
Haifei
H
Shi
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol
Dietary intervention; Estradiol; Glucose; High-fat diet; Leptin