Changes of hypothalamic α-MSH and CART peptide expression in diet-induced obese rats

• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2004.08.009
• Publication Date: 2004-10-07T15:04:01Z
• Authors: De-Run Tian; Xiao-Dong Li; Yu-Shun Shi; You Wan; Xiao-Min Wang; Jaw-Kang Chang; Jun Yang; Ji-Sheng Han
• Keywords: Male; 2. Zero hunger; 0301 basic medicine; Body Weight; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus; Gene Expression; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Feeding Behavior; Dietary Fats; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; 03 medical and health sciences; alpha-MSH; Animals; Obesity; Energy Intake

Two hypothalamic peptides, cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), recognized as anorexigenic neuropeptides to suppress the feeding behavior, were monitored in rats fed with a high-fat (HIF) diet for 14 weeks. While half of the rats developed obesity (diet-induced obese, DIO), some did not (diet resistant, DR). Compared to the DR rats and the control rats (fed with standard chow), DIO rats were accompanied by a markedly higher energy intake and a decrease in the number of neurons carrying alpha-MSH and CART peptide in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Failure of hypothalamic anorexigenic peptides CART and alpha-MSH to increase their content in response to HIF diet may play a key role for overly high energy consumption, resulting in obesity.