title: Teasaponin improves leptin sensitivity in the prefrontal cortex of obese mice.
abstract: METHODS
  Obesity impairs cognition, and the leptin-induced increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurogenesis. Tea consumption improves cognition and increases brain activation in the prefrontal cortex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study examined whether teasaponin, an active ingredient in tea, could improve memory and central leptin effects on neurogenesis in the prefrontal cortex of obese mice, and in vitro in cultured prefrontal cortical neurons. Teasaponin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 21 days improved downstream leptin signaling (JAK2 and STAT3), and leptin's effect on BDNF, in the prefrontal cortex of high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Prefrontal cortical neurons were cultured with teasaponin and palmitic acid (the most abundant dietary saturated fatty acid) to examine their effects on neurogenesis and BDNF expression in response to leptin. Palmitic acid decreased leptin's effect on neurite outgrowth, postsynaptic density protein 95, and BDNF expression in cultured cortical neurons, which was reversed by teasaponin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teasaponin improved the leptin sensitivity of prefrontal cortical neurons in obese mice or when treated by palmitic acid. This in turn increased BDNF expression and neurite growth. Therefore, teasaponin supplementation may be used to prevent obesity-associated neurodegeneration and improve cognitive function.
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.|Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Yinghua
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.
authors: Yizhen
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.|ANSTO Life Sciences, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Szabo
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.|Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors: Sen
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.|Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors: Shijia
authors: S
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia.|Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Xu-Feng
authors: XF
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D012503:Saponins; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D013662:Tea; D019308:Palmitic Acid
keywords: BDNF; Cortex; Leptin; Neurogenesis; Obesity; Teasaponin