title: n-3 Fatty Acids Induce Neurogenesis of Predominantly POMC-Expressing Cells in the Hypothalamus.
abstract: Apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons is believed to play an important role in the development and perpetuation of obesity. Similar to the hippocampus, the hypothalamus presents constitutive and stimulated neurogenesis, suggesting that obesity-associated hypothalamic dysfunction can be repaired. Here, we explored the hypothesis that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) induce hypothalamic neurogenesis. Both in the diet and injected directly into the hypothalamus, PUFAs were capable of increasing hypothalamic neurogenesis to levels similar or superior to the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Most of the neurogenic activity induced by PUFAs resulted in increased numbers of proopiomelanocortin but not NPY neurons and was accompanied by increased expression of BDNF and G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40). The inhibition of GPR40 was capable of reducing the neurogenic effect of a PUFA, while the inhibition of BDNF resulted in the reduction of global hypothalamic cell. Thus, PUFAs emerge as a potential dietary approach to correct obesity-associated hypothalamic neuronal loss.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas F R
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela F P
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joseane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sheila C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Victório
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ignácio-Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Razolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hernandes F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil lavelloso.unicamp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lício A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Velloso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; C473036:Ffar1 protein, mouse; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin