scholarly journals Low-dose infusions of leptin into the nucleus of the solitary tract increase sensitivity to third ventricle leptin

2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (5) ◽  
pp. E719-E728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Solitary Tract ◽  
Neural Pathway ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Neural Connection ◽  
Cumulative Intake

Previous studies suggest that weight loss occurs when leptin receptors in both the forebrain and hindbrain are activated. Experiments described here tested whether this integration is mediated through a neural connection or by leptin diffusion through the subarachanoid space. If the hypothalamus and hindbrain communicated through a neural pathway, then a very low dose of leptin infused directly into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) would enhance the response to third ventricle (3V) leptin but would have no effect if infused into the fourth ventricle (4V). A 12-day infusion of 10 ng/24 h into the 4V or the NTS reduced body fat. Leptin at 5 ng/24 h into the 4V or NTS had no effect on food intake or body composition, but infusion of 5 ng of leptin/24 h into the NTS combined with a 3V injection of 0.1 μg of leptin inhibited food intake between 6 and 12 h after injection. Cumulative intake was inhibited for up to 36 h. 3V leptin had no effect on food intake of rats receiving the 4V leptin infusion. Similar results were found using infusions of 5 ng leptin/24 h and a 3V injection of 0.025 μg leptin. These data suggest that activation of leptin receptors in the NTS lowers the threshold for response to leptin in the forebrain through a neural network.

scholarly journals Low-dose leptin infusion in the fourth ventricle of rats enhances the response to third-ventricle leptin injection

2017 ◽  
Vol 313 (2) ◽  
pp. E134-E147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Respiratory Exchange Ratio ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Separate Experiment ◽  
Rapid Weight Loss ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
The Third

We previously reported that low-dose leptin infusions into the third or fourth ventricle that do not affect energy balance when given independently cause rapid weight loss when given simultaneously. Therefore, we tested whether hindbrain leptin enhances the response to forebrain leptin or whether forebrain leptin enhances the response to hindbrain leptin. Rats received fourth-ventricle infusions of saline or 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 μg leptin/day for 13 days. On days 9 and 13, 0.1 μg leptin was injected into the third ventricle. The injection inhibited food intake for 36 h in saline-infused rats but for 60 h in those infused with 0.6 μg leptin/day. Leptin injection increased intrascapular brown fat temperature in leptin-infused, but not saline-infused, rats. In a separate experiment, rats received third-ventricle infusions of saline or 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1 μg leptin/day and fourth-ventricle injections of 1.0 μg leptin on days 9 and 13. Leptin injection inhibited food intake, respiratory exchange ratio, and 14-h food intake in rats infused with saline or the two lowest doses of leptin. There was no effect with higher-dose leptin infusions because food intake, body fat, and lean mass were already inhibited. These data suggest that activation of leptin receptors in the hindbrain enhances the response to third-ventricle leptin, whereas activation of forebrain leptin receptors does not enhance the response to fourth-ventricle leptin, consistent with our previous finding that weight loss in rats treated with fourth-ventricle leptin is associated with indirect activation of hypothalamic STAT3.

scholarly journals Fourth-ventricle leptin infusions dose-dependently activate hypothalamic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (6) ◽  
pp. E939-E948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth B. S. Harris ◽  
Bhavna N. Desai
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Rapid Weight Loss ◽  
Leptin Signaling ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
Arcuate Nuclei

Previous studies have shown that very low-dose infusions of leptin into the third or the fourth ventricle alone have little effect on energy balance, but simultaneous low-dose infusions cause rapid weight loss and increased phosphorylation of STAT3 (p-STAT3) in hypothalamic sites that express leptin receptors. Other studies show that injecting high doses of leptin into the fourth ventricle inhibits food intake and weight gain. Therefore, we tested whether fourth-ventricle leptin infusions that cause weight loss are associated with increased leptin signaling in the hypothalamus. In a dose response study 14-day infusions of increasing doses of leptin showed significant hypophagia, weight loss, and increased hypothalamic p-STAT3 in rats receiving at least 0.9 μg leptin/day. In a second study 0.6 μg leptin/day transiently inhibited food intake and reduced carcass fat, but had no significant effect on energy expenditure. In a final study, we identified the localization of STAT3 activation in the hypothalamus of rats receiving 0, 0.3, or 1.2 μg leptin/day. The high dose of leptin, which caused weight loss in the first experiment, increased p-STAT3 in the ventromedial, dorsomedial, and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus. The low dose that increased brown fat UCP1 but did not affect body composition in the first experiment had little effect on hypothalamic p-STAT3. We propose that hindbrain leptin increases the precision of control of energy balance by lowering the threshold for leptin signaling in the forebrain. Further studies are needed to directly test this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Leptin-induced increase in body fat content of rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (3) ◽  
pp. E267-E281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Lean Tissue ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
Reduced Body

We previously reported that peripheral leptin infusions in chronically decrebrate rats, in which the forebrain is neurally isolated from the hindbrain, increased body fat and decreased energy expenditure. Any central leptin response in decerebrate rats would depend upon the hindbrain. Here, we tested whether selective activation of hindbrain leptin receptors increased body fat. Fourth ventricle infusion of 0.6 μg leptin/day for 12 days increased body fat by 13% with no increase in food intake. Third ventricle leptin infusions decreased food intake, body fat, and lean tissue with a maximal response at 0.3 μg leptin/day. To test whether hindbrain receptors opposed activity of hypothalamic receptors, rats received peripheral infusions of 40 μg leptin/day and increasing 4th ventricle doses of the leptin receptor antagonist mutein protein. Mutein (3.0 μg/day) reduced body fat in PBS-infused rats to the same level as leptin-infused rats and reduced lean tissue in all rats. Leptin, but not mutein, inhibited food intake. By contrast, 3.0 μg/day mutein in the 3rd ventricle increased food intake and body fat in both PBS- and leptin-infused rats. In basal conditions, hindbrain leptin receptors may antagonize activity of forebrain receptors to protect lean and fat tissue, but there is no evidence for an anabolic role for hindbrain receptors when leptin is elevated. In a dietary study, rats increased energy intake when offered lard and 30% sucrose solution in addition to chow. Peripheral leptin infusion exaggerated the gain in body fat without altering energy intake confirming the potential for leptin to increase adiposity.

scholarly journals Blockade of the cerebral aqueduct in rats provides evidence of antagonistic leptin responses in the forebrain and hindbrain

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (4) ◽  
pp. E414-E423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Vaill ◽  
Bhavna N. Desai ◽  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Cerebral Aqueduct ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
The Third ◽  
Inhibit Food Intake

Previously, we reported that low-dose leptin infusions into the fourth ventricle produced a small but significant increase in body fat. These data contrast with reports that injections of higher doses of leptin into the fourth ventricle inhibit food intake and weight gain. In this study, we tested whether exogenous leptin in the fourth ventricle opposed or contributed to weight loss caused by third ventricle leptin infusion by blocking diffusion of CSF from the third to the fourth ventricle. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received third ventricle infusions of PBS or 0.3 μg leptin/24 h from miniosmotic pumps. After 4 days, rats received a 3-μl cerebral aqueduct injection of saline or of thermogelling nanoparticles (hydrogel) that solidified at body temperature. Third ventricle leptin infusion inhibited food intake and caused weight loss. Blocking the aqueduct exaggerated the effect of leptin on food intake and weight loss but had no effect on the weight of PBS-infused rats. Leptin reduced both body fat and lean body mass but did not change energy expenditure. Blocking the aqueduct decreased expenditure of rats infused with PBS or leptin. Infusion of leptin into the third ventricle increased phosphorylated STAT3 in the VMHDM of the hypothalamus and the medial NTS in the hindbrain. Blocking the aqueduct did not change hypothalamic p-STAT3 but decreased p-STAT3 in the medial NTS. These results support previous observations that low-level activation of hindbrain leptin receptors has the potential to blunt the catabolic effects of leptin in the third ventricle.

scholarly journals Increased Hypothalamic Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Phosphorylation after Hindbrain Leptin Injection

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 1509-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke Ruiter ◽  
Patricia Duffy ◽  
Steven Simasko ◽  
Robert C. Ritter
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
Signal Transducer ◽  
Solitary Tract ◽  
Stat3 Signaling ◽  
Stat3 Phosphorylation ◽  
Transcription 3

Reduction of food intake and body weight by leptin is attributed largely to its action in the hypothalamus. However, the signaling splice variant of the leptin receptor, LRb, also is expressed in the hindbrain, and leptin injections into the fourth cerebral ventricle or dorsal vagal complex are associated with reductions of feeding and body weight comparable to those induced by forebrain leptin administration. Although these observations suggest direct hindbrain action of leptin on feeding and body weight, the possibility that hindbrain leptin administration also activates the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in the hypothalamus has not been investigated. Confirming earlier work, we found that leptin produced comparable reductions of feeding and body weight when injected into the lateral ventricle or the fourth ventricle. We also found that lateral and fourth ventricle leptin injections produced comparable increases of STAT3 phosphorylation in both the hindbrain and the hypothalamus. Moreover, injection of 50 ng of leptin directly into the nucleus of the solitary tract also increased STAT3 phosphorylation in the hypothalamic arcuate and ventromedial nuclei. Increased hypothalamic STAT3 phosphorylation was not due to elevation of blood leptin concentrations and the pattern of STAT3 phosphorylation did not overlap distribution of the retrograde tracer, fluorogold, injected via the same cannula. Our observations indicate that even small leptin doses administered to the hindbrain can trigger leptin-related signaling in the forebrain, and raise the possibility that STAT3 phosphorylation in the hypothalamus may contribute to behavioral and metabolic changes observed after hindbrain leptin injections.

Morphological analysis of the hindbrain glucose sensor-hypothalamic neural pathway activated by hindbrain glucoprivation

Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marimo Sato ◽  
Shiori Minabe ◽  
Takahiro Sakono ◽  
Fumie Magata ◽  
Sho Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Glucose Sensor ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ependymal Cells ◽  
Neural Pathway ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Glucose Availability

Abstract Lowered glucose availability, sensed by the hindbrain, has been suggested to enhance gluconeogenesis and food intake as well as suppress reproductive function. In fact, our previous histological and in vitro studies suggest that hindbrain ependymal cells function as a glucose sensor. The present study aimed to clarify the hindbrain glucose sensor-hypothalamic neural pathway activated in response to hindbrain glucoprivation to mediate counterregulatory physiological responses. Administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), an inhibitor of glucose utilization, into the fourth ventricle (4V) of male rats for 0.5 h induced mRNA expression of c-fos, a marker for cellular activation, in ependymal cells in the 4V, but not in the lateral ventricle, the third ventricle or the central canal without a significant change in blood glucose and testosterone levels. Administration of 2DG into the 4V for 1 h significantly increased blood glucose levels, food intake, and decreased blood testosterone levels. Simultaneously, the expression of c-Fos protein was detected in the 4V ependymal cells; dopamine β-hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in the C1, C2, and A6 regions; neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA-positive cells in the C2; corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA-positive cells in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN); and NPY mRNA-positive cells in the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Taken together, these results suggest that lowered glucose availability, sensed by 4V ependymal cells, activates hindbrain catecholaminergic and/or NPY neurons followed by CRH neurons in the PVN and NPY neurons in the ARC, thereby leading to counterregulatory responses, such as an enhancement of gluconeogenesis, increased food intake, and suppression of sex steroid secretion.

scholarly journals Integrated Effects of Leptin in the Forebrain and Hindbrain of Male Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (8) ◽  
pp. 2663-2675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavna N. Desai ◽  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
The Third ◽  
Stat3 Phosphorylation

Abstract Leptin receptors (ObRs) in the forebrain and hindbrain have been independently recognized as important mediators of leptin responses. It is unclear how leptin activity in these areas is integrated. We tested whether both forebrain and hindbrain ObRs have to be activated simultaneously to change energy balance and to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Previous studies used acute leptin injections in either the third ventricle (1–5 μg) or the fourth ventricle (3–10 μg); here we used 12-day infusions of low doses of leptin in one or both ventricles (0.1 μg/24 h in third, 0.6 μg/24 h in fourth). Male Sprague Dawley rats were fitted with third and fourth ventricle cannulas, and saline or leptin was infused from Alzet pumps for 6 or 12 days. Rats that received leptin into only the third or the fourth ventricle were not different from controls that received saline in both ventricles. By contrast, rats with low-dose leptin infusions into both the third and fourth ventricle showed a dramatic 60% reduction in food intake that was reversed on day 6, a 20% weight loss that stabilized on day 6, and a 50% decrease in body fat at day 12 despite the correction of food intake. They displayed normal activity and maintained energy expenditure despite weight loss, indicating inappropriately high thermogenesis that coincided with increased signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in the brainstem. Altogether, these findings show that with low doses of leptin, chronic activation of both hypothalamic and brainstem ObRs is required to reduce body fat.

scholarly journals Leptin in the hindbrain facilitates phosphorylation of STAT3 in the hypothalamus

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (5) ◽  
pp. E351-E361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavna N. Desai ◽  
Ruth B. S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Ventromedial Hypothalamus ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Brain Nuclei ◽  
Dorsomedial Hypothalamus ◽  
The Third ◽  
Integrated Response

Leptin receptors (ObRs) in the forebrain and hindbrain have been independently recognized as important mediators of leptin responses. We recently used low-dose leptin infusions to show that chronic activation of both hypothalamic and hindbrain ObRs is required to reduce body fat. The objective of the present study was to identify the brain nuclei that are selectively activated in rats that received chronic infusion of leptin in both the forebrain and hindbrain. Either saline or leptin was infused into third and fourth ventricles (0.1 μg/24 h in the third ventricle and 0.6 μg/24 h in the fourth ventricle) of male Sprague-Dawley rats for 6 days using Alzet pumps. Rats infused with leptin into both ventricles (LL rats) showed a significant increase in phosphorylated (p)STAT3 immunoreactivity in the arcuate nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, and posterior hypothalamus compared with other groups. No differences in pSTAT3 immunoreactivity were observed in midbrain or hindbrain nuclei despite a sixfold higher infusion of leptin into the fourth ventricle than the third ventricle. ΔFosB immunoreactivity, a marker of chronic neuronal activation, showed that multiple brain nuclei were chronically activated due to the process of infusion, but only the arcuate nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, and ventral tuberomamillary nucleus showed a significant increase in LL rats compared with other groups. These data demonstrate that low-dose leptin in the hindbrain increases pSTAT3 in areas of the hypothalamus known to respond to leptin, supporting the hypothesis that leptin-induced weight loss requires an integrated response from both the hindbrain and forebrain.

scholarly journals Chronic Stimulation of Leptin on Food Intake and Body Weight after Microinjection into the Ventromedial Hypothalamus of Conscious Rats

1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-75
Author(s):  
Md Shahidul Haque ◽  
Takashi Shimazu
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Ventromedial Hypothalamus ◽  
Chronic Stimulation ◽  
Dramatic Effect ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Medial Hypothalamus ◽  
Control Body ◽  
Stimulation Of

A very low dose of leptin (50 ng) was microinjected into the ventro-medial hypothalamus (VMH) of each rat daily once for three days. Food intake and body weight were measured after leptin injections. Microinjection of leptin into the VMH reduced food intake by 33.3 % significantly (P<0.01) during three days of leptin injection compared to the control. Body weight was measured after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of leptin injection. After 24 h (P<0.01) and 48 h (P<0.05) of leptin injection, body weight was reduced significantly compared to that of rat before injection. Similarly, after 72 h of leptin injection, a significant reduced body weight was observed (P<0.1). A significant (P<0.001) reduced changes of body weight were found after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after injection into the VMH when compared to the respective controls injected with saline. The results suggest that leptin has dramatic effect on reducing body weight by inhibition of food intake.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v19i2.3154 TAJ 2006; 19(2): 70-75

scholarly journals Targeted leptin receptor blockade: role of ventral tegmental area and nucleus of the solitary tract leptin receptors in body weight homeostasis

2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Matheny ◽  
K Y E Strehler ◽  
M King ◽  
N Tümer ◽  
P J Scarpace
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Solitary Tract ◽  
Leptin Receptors ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

The present investigation examined whether leptin stimulation of ventral tegmental area (VTA) or nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) has a role in body weight homeostasis independent of the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH). To this end, recombinant adeno-associated viral techniques were employed to target leptin overexpression or overexpression of a dominant negative leptin mutant (leptin antagonist). Leptin antagonist overexpression in MBH or VTA increased food intake and body weight to similar extents over 14 days in rats. Simultaneous overexpression of leptin in VTA with antagonist in MBH resulted in food intake and body weight gain that were less than with control treatment but greater than with leptin alone in VTA. Notably, leptin overexpression in VTA increased P-STAT3 in MBH along with VTA, and leptin antagonist overexpression in the VTA partially attenuated P-STAT3 levels in MBH. Interestingly, leptin antagonist overexpression elevated body weight gain, but leptin overexpression in the NTS failed to modulate either food intake or body weight despite increased P-STAT3. These data suggest that leptin function in the VTA participates in the chronic regulation of food consumption and body weight in response to stimulation or blockade of VTA leptin receptors. Moreover, one component of VTA-leptin action appears to be independent of the MBH, and another component appears to be related to leptin receptor-mediated P-STAT3 activation in the MBH. Finally, leptin receptors in the NTS are necessary for normal energy homeostasis, but mostly they appear to have a permissive role. Direct leptin activation of NTS slightly increases UCP1 levels, but has little effect on food consumption or body weight.

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