title: Effects of direct QRFP-26 administration into the medial hypothalamic area on food intake in rats.
abstract: The RFamide peptide family comprises a number of biologically active peptides sharing RF motif at their C-terminal end. These peptides are involved in the control of multiple physiological functions including regulation of metabolism and feeding behavior. QRFP-43 as well as its 26-aminoacid residue QRFP-26 are able to cause orexigenic effect when administered to the rodents' cerebral ventricles. QRFPs have been suggested as the endogenous ligands of the previously orphan GPR103 receptors. GPR103 receptors share amino acid identity with other receptors of neuropeptides involved in feeding (NPY, NPFF, galanin). QRFP-26 expressing neurons and binding sites are densely present in the rat medial hypothalamus (MHA), an area directly responsible for the regulation of feeding. QRFP-26 was delivered to the target area by direct intrahypothalamic microinjection, and the consumption of liquid food was measured over a 60 min period. Both doses (100 and 200 ng) significantly increased food intake. Non-specific receptor antagonist BIBP3226 eliminated the orexigenic effect caused by QRFP-26 administration. Effective doses of QRFP-26 did not modify general locomotor activity and behavioral patterns examined in the open-field test. This study is the first reporting feeding modulating effects following direct intrahypothalamic QRFP-26 administration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zagorácz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kristóf
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: László
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ollmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Péczely
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary; Molecular Neurophysiology Research Group, Pécs University, Szentágothai Research Center, Pécs, Hungary. Electronic address: Laszlo.Lenard@aok.pte.hu.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lénárd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C092926:BIBP 3226; D010455:Peptides; C539769:QRFP-26 peptide; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Food intake; Hypothalamus; Open-field test; QRFP-26; Receptor antagonist BIBP3226