Stomach regulates energy balance via acylated ghrelin and desacyl ghrelin
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Desacyl ghrelin, unlike acylated ghrelin, reduces food intake and gastric emptying, promoting a negative energy balance. This effect is mediated by the hypothalamus, suggesting the stomach
Area Of Science
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Metabolism
Background
- Ghrelin exists as acylated and desacyl forms, with acylated ghrelin known to promote positive energy balance.
- Desacyl ghrelin was previously considered to lack endocrine activity.
- The role of desacyl ghrelin in energy balance regulation remained unclear.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the effects of desacyl ghrelin on energy balance.
- To determine the mechanisms underlying desacyl ghrelin's actions on food intake and gastric function.
- To explore the long-term consequences of desacyl ghrelin overexpression.
Main Methods
- Administration of desacyl ghrelin to mice and measurement of food intake, gastric emptying, and hypothalamic gene expression.
- Assessment of c-Fos expression in hypothalamic nuclei (paraventricular and arcuate nuclei).
- Generation and analysis of transgenic mice overexpressing desacyl ghrelin.
Main Results
- Desacyl ghrelin administration decreased food intake and gastric emptying rate via hypothalamic pathways.
- Increased expression of anorexigenic neuropeptides (CART and urocortin) in the hypothalamus.
- Desacyl ghrelin overexpressing mice showed reduced body weight, food intake, fat mass, and moderately decreased linear growth, with delayed gastric emptying.
Conclusions
- Desacyl ghrelin induces a negative energy balance by suppressing appetite and delaying gastric emptying.
- Hypothalamic nuclei are key mediators of desacyl ghrelin's effects on energy balance.
- The opposing actions of acylated and desacyl ghrelin suggest a dual role for the stomach in energy homeostasis.