scholarly journals Role of Agouti-Related Protein-Expressing Neurons in Lactation

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 544-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin T. Phillips ◽  
Richard D. Palmiter
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Diphtheria Toxin ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Hypothalamic Neurons ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Hypothalamic neurons that express agouti-related protein (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are thought to be important for regulation of feeding, especially under conditions of negative energy balance. The expression of NPY and AgRP increases during lactation and may promote the hyperphagia that ensues. We explored the role of AgRP neurons in reproduction and lactation, using a mouse model in which AgRP-expressing neurons were selectively ablated by the action of diphtheria toxin. We show that ablation of AgRP neurons in neonatal mice does not interfere with pregnancy, parturition, or lactation, suggesting that early ablation allows compensatory mechanisms to become established. However, ablation of AgRP neurons after lactation commences results in rapid starvation, indicating that both basal feeding and lactation-induced hyperphagia become dependent on AgRP neurons in adulthood. We also show that constitutive inactivation of Npy and Agrp genes does not prevent pregnancy or lactation, nor does it protect lactating dams from diphtheria toxin-induced starvation.

scholarly journals A possible role of neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein and leptin receptor isoforms in hypothalamic programming by perinatal feeding in the rat

Diabetologia ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L�pez ◽  
L. M. Seoane ◽  
S. Tovar ◽  
M. C. Garc�a ◽  
R. Nogueiras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Receptor Isoforms ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

The role of photoperiod on the expression of hypothalamic genes regulating appetite in Chevrier’s field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri)

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Fang Yang ◽  
Jinhong Cai ◽  
Chunmei Huang ◽  
Zhengkun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Field Mouse ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Serum Leptin ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

The hypothalamus and leptin play a key role in the regulation of food intake. The present study investigated the effects of 4 weeks of short- or long-photoperiod on serum leptin levels and food intake in relation to mRNA expression levels of neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, pro-opiomelanocortin, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the hypothalamus of Chevrier’s field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri). There was a significant difference in body fat mass, food intake and neuropeptide Y mRNA expression between the two groups, but serum leptin level, agouti-related protein, pro-opiomelanocortin, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript mRNA expression in the hypothalamus were not difference between the two groups. The elevation of neuropeptide Y mRNA regulated neuropeptides in the hypothalamus suggests a physiological role of neuroendocrine factors in food intake during the different photoperiod. We conclude that leptin may be involved in energy balance and body mass regulation.

scholarly journals Changes of agouti-related protein in hypothalamus, placenta, and serum during pregnancy in the rat

2009 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Szczepankiewicz ◽  
Ewa Pruszynska-Oszmalek ◽  
Przemyslaw Kaczmarek ◽  
Marek Skrzypski ◽  
Karolina Andralojc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Agouti Protein ◽  
Its Gene ◽  
Arcuate Nuclei ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is a homolog of the agouti protein and acts as an antagonist of peptides derived from propiomelanocortin through melanocortin receptors. This peptide is produced mainly in the hypothalamus, particularly during negative energy balance and influences increased food intake. In the hypothalamus, this peptide is co-expressed in arcuate nuclei with neuropeptide Y, another important peptide that regulates energy metabolisms. In our study, we analyzed changes in the Agrp mRNA level in the hypothalamus as well as mRNA and protein levels in placenta during different stages of rat pregnancy. We also investigated the AGRP level in the blood serum. In this study, we found the AGRP level in serum increased, while its gene expression in the hypothalamus increased only up to the 13th day of pregnancy, and decreased on the 18th day. This study demonstrates that AGRP is expressed during late pregnancy in placenta. Moreover, we found that AGRP expression is higher on the 18th than on the 13th day of pregnancy. Our results indicate that AGRP may play an important role during pregnancy in the mother's and, possibly, also in the fetus's energy balance.

scholarly journals Regulation of Food Intake and Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/Luteinizing Hormone during Lactation: Role of Insulin and Leptin

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (9) ◽  
pp. 4231-4240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Xu ◽  
Melissa A. Kirigiti ◽  
Kevin L. Grove ◽  
M. Susan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Serum Glucose ◽  
Negative Energy Balance ◽  
Serum Lh ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Agouti Related Protein ◽  
Insulin Replacement

Abstract Negative energy balance during lactation is reflected by low levels of insulin and leptin and is associated with chronic hyperphagia and suppressed GnRH/LH activity. We studied whether restoration of insulin and/or leptin to physiological levels would reverse the lactation-associated hyperphagia, changes in hypothalamic neuropeptide expression [increased neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AGRP) and decreased proopiomelanocortin (POMC), kisspeptin (Kiss1), and neurokinin B (NKB)] and suppression of LH. Ovariectomized lactating rats (eight pups) were treated for 48 h with sc minipumps containing saline, human insulin, or rat leptin. The arcuate nucleus (ARH) was analyzed for NPY, AGRP, POMC, Kiss1, and NKB mRNA expression; the dorsal medial hypothalamus (DMH) was analyzed for NPY mRNA. Insulin replacement reversed the increase in ARH NPY/AGRP mRNAs, partially recovered POMC, but had no effect on recovering Kiss1/NKB. Leptin replacement only affected POMC, which was fully recovered. Insulin/leptin dual replacement had similar effects as insulin replacement alone but with a slight increase in Kiss1/NKB. The lactation-induced increase in DMH NPY was unchanged after treatments. Restoration of insulin and/or leptin had no effect on food intake, body weight, serum glucose or serum LH. These results suggest that the negative energy balance of lactation is not required for the hyperphagic drive, although it is involved in the orexigenic changes in the ARH. The chronic hyperphagia of lactation is most likely sustained by the induction of NPY in the DMH. The negative energy balance also does not appear to be a necessary prerequisite for the suppression of GnRH/LH activity.

scholarly journals CD206+ macrophage is an accelerator of endometriotic-like lesion via promoting angiogenesis in the endometriosis mouse model

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Ono ◽  
Osamu Yoshino ◽  
Takehiro Hiraoka ◽  
Erina Sato ◽  
Akiko Furue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Diphtheria Toxin ◽  
Immunohistochemical Study ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Diphtheria Toxin Receptor ◽  
Endothelial Cell Marker ◽  
Toxin Receptor ◽  
Group A

AbstractIn endometriosis, M2 MΦs are dominant in endometriotic lesions, but the actual role of M2 MΦ is unclear. CD206 positive (+) MΦ is classified in one of M2 type MΦs and are known to produce cytokines and chemokines. In the present study, we used CD206 diphtheria toxin receptor mice, which enable to deplete CD206+ cells with diphtheria toxin (DT) in an endometriosis mouse model. The depletion of CD206+ MΦ decreased the total weight of endometriotic-like lesions significantly (p < 0.05). In the endometriotic-like lesions in the DT group, a lower proliferation of endometriotic cells and the decrease of angiogenesis were observed. In the lesions, the mRNA levels of VEGFA and TGFβ1, angiogenic factors, in the DT group significantly decreased to approximately 50% and 30% of control, respectively. Immunohistochemical study revealed the expressions of VEGFA and an endothelial cell marker CD31 in lesions of the DT group, were dim compared to those in control. Also, the number of TGFβ1 expressing MΦ was significantly reduced compared to control. These data suggest that CD206+ MΦ promotes the formation of endometriotic-like lesions by inducing angiogenesis around the lesions.

scholarly journals Neither Agouti-Related Protein nor Neuropeptide Y Is Critically Required for the Regulation of Energy Homeostasis in Mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 5027-5035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Qian ◽  
Howard Chen ◽  
Drew Weingarth ◽  
Myrna E. Trumbauer ◽  
Dawn E. Novi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Orexigenic Peptide ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

ABSTRACT Agouti-related protein (AgRP), a neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, potently stimulates feeding and body weight gain in rodents. AgRP is believed to exert its effects through the blockade of signaling by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin-3 receptor (Mc3r) and Mc4r. We generated AgRP-deficient (Agrp−/− ) mice to examine the physiological role of AgRP. Agrp−/− mice are viable and exhibit normal locomotor activity, growth rates, body composition, and food intake. Additionally, Agrp−/− mice display normal responses to starvation, diet-induced obesity, and the administration of exogenous leptin or neuropeptide Y (NPY). In situ hybridization failed to detect altered CNS expression levels for proopiomelanocortin, Mc3r, Mc4r, or NPY mRNAs in Agrp−/− mice. As AgRP and the orexigenic peptide NPY are coexpressed in neurons of the arcuate nucleus, we generated AgRP and NPY double-knockout (Agrp−/− ;Npy−/− ) mice to determine whether NPY or AgRP plays a compensatory role in Agrp−/− or NPY-deficient (Npy−/− ) mice, respectively. Similarly to mice deficient in either AgRP or NPY, Agrp−/− ;Npy−/− mice suffer no obvious feeding or body weight deficits and maintain a normal response to starvation. Our results demonstrate that neither AgRP nor NPY is a critically required orexigenic factor, suggesting that other pathways capable of regulating energy homeostasis can compensate for the loss of both AgRP and NPY.

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