scholarly journals Blockade of hindbrain NMDA receptors containing NR2 subunits increases sucrose intake

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (4) ◽  
pp. R921-R928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas B. Guard ◽  
Timothy D. Swartz ◽  
Robert C. Ritter ◽  
Gilbert A. Burns ◽  
Mihai Covasa

We have previously shown that blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the caudal brain stem delays satiation and increases food intake. NMDA receptors are heterodimers made up of distinct, but different, ion channel subunits. The NR2 subunits of the NMDA receptor contain the binding site for glutamate. About half of vagal afferents express immunoreactivity for NMDA NR2B subunit and about half of the NR2B expressing afferents also express NMDA NR2C or NR2D subunits. This suggests that increased food intake may be evoked by interference with glutamate binding to NMDA channels containing the NR2B subunit. To test this, we measured deprivation-induced intake of 15% sucrose solution following fourth ventricle and intra-nucleus of the solitary tract (intra-NTS) injections of Conantokin G (Con G; NR2B blocker), d-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propenyl-1-phosphoric acid (d-CPPene; NR2B/2A blocker), and (±)-cis-1-(phenanthren-2yl-carbonyl)piperazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (PPDA; NR2D/C blocker). Fourth ventricular administration of Con G (5, 20, 40, 80 ng), d-CPPene (3.0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 ng), and PPDA (300, 400 ng) increased sucrose intake significantly compared with control. Likewise, injections of Con G (10 ng), d-CPPene (5 ng, 10 ng), and PPDA (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 ng) directly into the NTS significantly increased sucrose intake. These results show that hindbrain injection of competitive NMDA antagonists with selectivity or preference for the NMDA receptor NR2B or NR2C subunits increases food intake.

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (3) ◽  
pp. R642-R651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Yi Hung ◽  
M. Covasa ◽  
R. C. Ritter ◽  
G. A. Burns

Hindbrain administration of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) channel blocker, increases meal size, suggesting NMDA receptors in this location participate in control of food intake. However, dizocilpine (MK-801) reportedly antagonizes some non-NMDA ion channels. Therefore, to further assess hindbrain NMDA receptor participation in food intake control, we measured deprivation-induced intakes of 15% sucrose solution or rat chow after intraperitoneal injection of either saline vehicle or d(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5), a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, to the fourth ventricular, or nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Intraperitoneal injection of AP5 (0.05, 0.1, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg) did not alter 30-min sucrose intake at any dose (10.7 ± 0.4 ml, saline control) (11.0 ± 0.8, 11.2 ± 1.0, 11.2 ± 1.0, 13.1 ± 2.2, and 11.0 ± 1.9 ml, AP5 doses, respectively). Fourth ventricular administration of both 0.2 μg (16.7 ± 0.6 ml) and 0.4 μg (14.9 ± 0.5 ml) but not 0.1 and 0.6 μg of AP5 significantly increased 60-min sucrose intake compared with saline (11.2 ± 0.4 ml). Twenty-four hour chow intake also was increased compared with saline (AP5: 31.5 ± 0.1 g vs. saline: 27.1 ± 0.6 g). Furthermore, rats did not increase intake of 0.2% saccharin after fourth ventricular AP5 administration (AP5: 9.8 ± 0.7ml, vs. saline: 10.5 ± 0.5ml). Finally, NTS AP5 (20 ng/30 nl) significantly increased 30- (AP5: 17.2 ± 0.7 ml vs. saline: 14.6 ± 1.7 ml), and 60-min (AP5: 19.4 ± 0.6 ml vs. saline: 15.5 ± 1.4 ml) sucrose intake, as well as 24-h chow intake (AP5: 31.6 ± 0.3 g vs. saline: 26.1 ± 1.2 g). These results support the hypothesis that hindbrain NMDA receptors participate in control of food intake and suggest that this participation also may contribute to control of body weight over a 24-h period.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. R448-R455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Wright ◽  
Carlos Campos ◽  
Thiebaut Herzog ◽  
Mihai Covasa ◽  
Krzysztof Czaja ◽  
...  

Intraperitoneal injection of CCK reduces food intake and triggers a behavioral pattern similar to natural satiation. Reduction of food intake by CCK is mediated by vagal afferents that innervate the stomach and small intestine. These afferents synapse in the hindbrain nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) where gastrointestinal satiation signals are processed. Previously, we demonstrated that intraperitoneal (IP) administration of either competitive or noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists attenuates reduction of food intake by CCK. However, because vagal afferents themselves express NMDA receptors at both central and peripheral endings, our results did not speak to the question of whether NMDA receptors in the brain play an essential role in reduction of feeding by CCK. We hypothesized that activation of NMDA receptors in the NTS is necessary for reduction of food intake by CCK. To test this hypothesis, we measured food intake following IP CCK, subsequent to NMDA receptor antagonist injections into the fourth ventricle, directly into the NTS or subcutaneously. We found that either fourth-ventricle or NTS injection of the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 was sufficient to inhibit CCK-induced reduction of feeding, while the same antagonist doses injected subcutaneously did not. Similarly fourth ventricle injection of d-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propenyl-1-phosphoric acid (d-CPPene), a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, also blocked reduction of food intake following IP CCK. Finally, d-CPPene injected into the fourth ventricle attenuated CCK-induced expression of nuclear c-Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal vagal complex. We conclude that activation of NMDA receptors in the hindbrain is necessary for the reduction of food intake by CCK. Hindbrain NMDA receptors could comprise a critical avenue for control and modulation of satiation signals to influence food intake and energy balance.


Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (6) ◽  
pp. 2633-2646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Campos ◽  
Jason S. Wright ◽  
Krzysztof Czaja ◽  
Robert C. Ritter

The dorsal vagal complex of the hindbrain, including the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), receives neural and humoral afferents that contribute to the process of satiation. The gut peptide, cholecystokinin (CCK), promotes satiation by activating gastrointestinal vagal afferents that synapse in the NTS. Previously, we demonstrated that hindbrain administration of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptor antagonists attenuate reduction of food intake after ip CCK-8 injection, indicating that these receptors play a necessary role in control of food intake by CCK. However, the signaling pathways through which hindbrain NMDA receptors contribute to CCK-induced reduction of food intake have not been investigated. Here we report CCK increases phospho-ERK1/2 in NTS neurons and in identified vagal afferent endings in the NTS. CCK-evoked phospho-ERK1/2 in the NTS was attenuated in rats pretreated with capsaicin and was abolished by systemic injection of a CCK1 receptor antagonist, indicating that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 occurs in and is mediated by gastrointestinal vagal afferents. Fourth ventricle injection of a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, prevented CCK-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in hindbrain neurons and in vagal afferent endings, as did direct inhibition of MAPK kinase. Finally, fourth ventricle administration of either a MAPK kinase inhibitor or NMDA receptor antagonist prevented the reduction of food intake by CCK. We conclude that activation of NMDA receptors in the hindbrain is necessary for CCK-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the NTS and consequent reduction of food intake.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (5) ◽  
pp. R1504-R1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Gillespie ◽  
G. A. Burns ◽  
R. C. Ritter

The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) ion channel blocker MK-801 administered systemically or as a nanoliter injection into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), increases meal size. Furthermore, we have observed that ablation of the NTS abolishes increased meal size following systemic injection of dizocilpine (MK-801) and that MK-801-induced increases in intake are attenuated in rats pretreated with capsaicin to destroy small, unmyelinated, primary afferent neurons. These findings led us to hypothesize that NMDA receptors on central vagal afferent terminals or on higher-order NTS neurons innervated by these vagal afferents might mediate increased food intake. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined 15% sucrose intake after 50-nl MK-801 injections ipsilateral or contralateral to unilateral nodose ganglion removal (ganglionectomy). On the side contralateral to ganglionectomy, vagal afferent terminals would be intact and functional, whereas ipsilateral to ganglionectomy vagal afferent terminals would be absent. Three additional control preparations also were included: 1) sham ganglionectomy and 2) subnodose vagotomy either contralateral or ipsilateral to NTS cannula placement. We found that rats with subnodose vagotomies increased their sucrose intake after injections of MK-801 compared with saline, regardless of whether injections were made contralateral (12.6 ± 0.2 vs. 9.6 ± 0.3 ml) or ipsilateral (14.2 ± 0.6 vs. 9.7 ± 0.4 ml) to vagotomy. Rats with NTS cannula placements contralateral to nodose ganglionectomy also increased their intake after MK-801 (12.2 ± 0.9 and 9.2 ± 1.1 ml for MK-801 and saline, respectively). However, rats with placements ipsilateral to ganglionectomy did not respond to MK-801 (8.0 ± 0.5 ml) compared with saline (8.3 ± 0.4 ml). We conclude that central vagal afferent terminals are necessary for increased food intake in response to NMDA ion channel blockade. The function of central vagal afferent processes or the activity of higher-order NTS neurons driven by vagal afferents may be modulated by NMDA receptors to control meal size.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (3) ◽  
pp. R451-R464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakan S. Orer ◽  
Gerard L. Gebber ◽  
Shaun W. Phillips ◽  
Susan M. Barman

We tested the hypothesis that blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors on medullary lateral tegmental field (LTF) neurons would reduce the sympathoexcitatory responses elicited by electrical stimulation of vagal, trigeminal, and sciatic afferents, posterior hypothalamus, and midbrain periaqueductal gray as well as by activation of arterial chemoreceptors with intravenous NaCN. Bilateral microinjection of a non-NMDA receptor antagonist into LTF of urethane-anesthetized cats significantly decreased vagal afferent-evoked excitatory responses in inferior cardiac and vertebral nerves to 29 ± 8 and 24 ± 6% of control ( n = 7), respectively. Likewise, blockade of non-NMDA receptors significantly reduced chemoreceptor reflex-induced increases in inferior cardiac (from 210 ± 22 to 129 ± 13% of control; n = 4) and vertebral nerves (from 253 ± 41 to 154 ± 20% of control; n = 7) and mean arterial pressure (from 39 ± 7 to 21 ± 5 mmHg; n = 8). Microinjection of muscimol, but not an NMDA receptor antagonist, caused similar attenuation of these excitatory responses. Sympathoexcitatory responses to the other stimuli were not attenuated by microinjection of a non-NMDA receptor antagonist or muscimol into LTF. In fact, excitatory responses elicited by stimulation of trigeminal, and in some cases sciatic, afferents were enhanced. These data reveal two new roles for the LTF in control of sympathetic nerve activity in cats. One, LTF neurons are involved in mediating sympathoexcitation elicited by activation of vagal afferents and arterial chemoreceptors, primarily via activation of non-NMDA receptors. Two, non-NMDA receptor-mediated activation of other LTF neurons tonically suppresses transmission in trigeminal-sympathetic and sciatic-sympathetic reflex pathways.


1997 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. S31
Author(s):  
Hirokazu Hirai ◽  
Bodo Laube ◽  
Jochen Kuhse ◽  
Heinrich Betz

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (2) ◽  
pp. R264-R273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingchuan Zhang ◽  
Robert C. Ritter

Previous reports suggest that glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), a peptide secreted from the distal small intestine, is an endocrine satiation signal. Nevertheless, there are conflicting reports regarding the site where circulating GLP-1 acts to reduce food intake. To test the hypothesis that vagal afferents are necessary for reduction of food intake by circulating GLP-1, we measured intake of 15% sucrose during intravenous GLP-1 infusion in intact, vagotomized, and capsaicin-treated rats. We also measured sucrose intake during intravenous infusion of cholecystokinin, a peptide known to reduce food intake via abdominal vagal afferents. We found that reduction of intake by GLP-1 was not diminished by capsaicin treatment or vagotomy. In fact, reduction of sucrose intake by our highest GLP-1 dose was enhanced in vagotomized and capsaicin-treated rats. Intravenous GLP-1 induced comparable increases of hindbrain c-Fos immunoreactivity in intact, capsaicin-treated, and vagotomized rats. Plasma concentrations of active GLP-1 in capsaicin-treated rats did not differ from those of controls during the intravenous infusions. Finally, capsaicin treatment was not associated with altered GLP-1R mRNA in the brain, but nodose ganglia GLP-1R mRNA was significantly reduced in capsaicin-treated rats. Although reduction of food intake by intraperitoneal cholecystokinin was abolished in vagotomized and capsaicin-treated rats, reduction of intake by intravenous cholecystokinin was only partially attenuated. These results indicate that vagal or capsaicin-sensitive neurons are not necessary for reduction of food intake by circulating (endocrine) GLP-1, or cholecystokinin. Vagal participation in satiation by these peptides may be limited to paracrine effects exerted near the sites of their secretion.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (3) ◽  
pp. R1063-R1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Savastano ◽  
Matthew R. Hayes ◽  
Mihai Covasa

Several gastrointestinal stimuli, including some intestinal nutrients, have been shown to exert their satiating effect via activation of serotonin type-3 (5-HT3) receptors. The presence of lipids in the small intestine potently suppresses food intake; however, whether 5-HT3 receptors play a role in this response has not been directly examined. Therefore, using the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron, we tested the hypothesis that duodenal infusion of lipid suppresses intake of both sucrose solution and chow through 5-HT3 receptor activation. Rats duodenally infused with 72 and 130 mM Intralipid suppressed 1-h 15% sucrose intake by 33 and 67%, respectively. Suppression of sucrose intake by 72 mM Intralipid was significantly attenuated by ondansetron at all doses tested (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/kg ip), whereas the lowest effective dose of ondansetron to attenuate suppression of intake by 130 mM Intralipid was 1.0 mg/kg. Furthermore, infusion of 130 mM Intralipid suppressed 1- and 4-h chow intake by 35 and 20%, respectively. Ondansetron administered as low as 0.5 mg/kg significantly attenuated 1-h Intralipid-induced suppression of chow intake and completely reversed the suppression by 4 h. Administration of ondansetron alone did not alter sucrose or chow intake compared with vehicle injection at any time. Finally, to test whether Intralipid-induced neuronal activation of the dorsal vagal complex is mediated by 5-HT3 receptors, Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) was quantified in ondansetron-pretreated rats following intestinal lipid infusion. Ondansetron (1 mg/kg) significantly attenuated duodenal intralipid-induced Fos-LI in the dorsal hindbrain. These data support the hypothesis that 5-HT3 receptors mediate both satiation, as well as hindbrain neuronal responses evoked by intestinal lipids.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (3) ◽  
pp. R641-R648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihai Covasa ◽  
Robert C. Ritter ◽  
Gilbert A. Burns

MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, enhances gastric emptying while increasing food intake. Although our previously reported results implicate the vagus in MK-801's effect on feeding, it is not clear whether vagal motor fibers participate in the feeding response. Control of gastric emptying is exerted, in part, by cholinergic vagal motor neurons. Therefore, we examined the ability of MK-801 to increase meal size in the presence or absence of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine methyl nitrate. Both central and systemic administration of MK-801 significantly increased intake of 15% sucrose. Intraperitoneal injection of atropine abolished MK-801-induced increase in sucrose intake, whereas administration into the fourth ventricle had no effect. To determine whether augmentation of cholinergic tone produces an enhancement of food intake in the absence of MK-801, we tested the ability of cisapride, a gastric prokinetic agent that promotes acetylcholine release through an action on presynaptic serotonin (5-HT4) receptors, to increase sucrose consumption. Cisapride (500 μg/kg ip) induced a small but significant increase in 15% sucrose intake (15.5 ± 0.5 ml) compared with NaCl (13.0 ± 0.6 ml). Furthermore, when MK-801 (100 μg/kg ip) was given in combination with cisapride, intake was significantly higher (19.8 ± 0.9 ml) than following either agent given alone. Pretreatment with atropine abolished the cisapride-induced increase in intake (12.1 ± 0.9 ml) as well as the increased intake induced by combining MK-801 and cisapride. These results suggest that blockade of NMDA-gated ion channels in the hindbrain increases food intake, in part, via a peripheral muscarinic cholinergic mechanism.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (2) ◽  
pp. R345-R351 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Covasa ◽  
R. C. Ritter ◽  
G. A. Burns

Rats increase their intake of food, but not water, after intraperitoneal injection of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-d-aspartate-activated ion channels. We hypothesized that MK-801 might enhance intake by interfering with intestinal chemosensory signals. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of the antagonist on 15% sucrose intake after an intraduodenal infusion of maltotriose, oleic acid, or phenylalanine in both real- and sham-feeding paradigms. MK-801 (100 μg/kg) significantly increased sucrose intake regardless of the composition of the infusate during real feeding. Furthermore, MK-801 had no effect on reduction of sucrose intake by intestinal nutrient infusions in sham-feeding rats. These results indicate that MK-801 does not increase meal size and duration by interfering with signals activated by intestinal macronutrients.


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