Coordinated seasonal regulation of metabolic and reproductive hypothalamic peptides in the desert jerboa.
Jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) is a semi-desert rodent displaying strong seasonal variations in biological functions in order to survive harsh conditions. When environmental conditions become unfavorable in early autumn, it shuts down its reproductive axis, increases its body weight, and finally hibernates. In spring, the jerboa displays opposite regulations, with a reactivation of reproduction and reduction in body weight. This study investigated how genes coding for different hypothalamic peptides involved in the central control of reproduction (Rfrp and Kiss1) and energy homeostasis (Pomc, Npy, and Somatostatin) are regulated according to seasons in male jerboas captured in the wild in spring or autumn. Remarkably, a coordinated increase in the mRNA level of Rfrp in the dorso/ventromedial hypothalamus and Kiss1, Pomc, and Somatostatin in the arcuate nucleus was observed in jerboas captured in spring as compared to autumn animals. Only Npy gene expression in the arcuate nucleus displayed no significant variations between the two seasons. These variations appear in line with the jerboa's seasonal physiology, since the spring increase in Rfrp and Kiss1 expression might be related to sexual reactivation, while the spring increase in genes encoding anorexigenic peptides, POMC, and somatostatin may account for the reduced body weight reported at this time of the year. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:3717-3728, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.|Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Nutritional and Climatic Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, BP 1796-ATLAS, FES, Morocco.
Rajae
R
Talbi
Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Paul
P
Klosen
Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Marie-Pierre
MP
Laran-Chich
Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Nutritional and Climatic Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, BP 1796-ATLAS, FES, Morocco.
Seloua
S
El Ouezzani
Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. simonneaux@inci-cnrs.unistra.fr.
Valérie
V
Simonneaux
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism
D059648:Kisspeptins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; C416987:RFamide peptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013004:Somatostatin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin
NPY; POMC; RFRP-3; jerboa; kisspeptin; somatostatin