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Recombinant leptin in the hypothalamic response to late fasting.
Fabrice Bertile1, Hugues Oudart, Yvon Le Maho
1Centre d'Ecologie et Physiologie Energétiques, UPR 9010 CNRS, associé à l'Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. Fabrice.Bertile@c-strasbourg.fr
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 11, 2003
Summary
Low leptin levels signal increased drive for refeeding during prolonged fasting. Leptin infusion impacts hypothalamic gene expression, influencing feeding behavior in late-stage fasting (P3).
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Metabolic Regulation
Background:
- Leptin is a key hormone in regulating energy balance and appetite.
- Understanding leptin's role during prolonged food deprivation is crucial for metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate leptin's effect on hypothalamic gene expression during late-stage fasting (Phase 3).
- To explore leptin's implication in the regulation of feeding behavior during prolonged food deprivation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Northern blot analysis to assess mRNA levels of specific hypothalamic peptides.
- Administered leptin infusion to rats undergoing long-term food deprivation.
- Measured plasma parameters including glucose, fatty acids, insulin, and corticosterone.
Main Results:
- Leptin infusion tended to decrease glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, and insulin levels.
- Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AGRP), and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) mRNA levels were differentially regulated by leptin during fasting.
- NPY, AGRP, and MCH mRNA levels remained stable or slightly increased in fasted rats treated with leptin.
- Anorexigenic peptides (CART, POMC) and prepro-Orexin (prepro-OX) showed minimal changes in gene expression with leptin treatment.
Conclusions:
- Leptin, especially at low plasma concentrations, may act as a signal for the fasting-induced drive to refeed.
- Leptin influences hypothalamic gene expression patterns associated with appetite regulation during prolonged fasting.