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Experimental Approach to Examine Leptin Signaling in the Carotid Bodies and its Effects on Control of Breathing
Published on: October 25, 2019
Effect of leptin on hypothalamic gene expression in calorie-restricted rats
Toshimitsu Komatsu1, Takuya Chiba, Haruyoshi Yamaza
1Department of Pathology & Gerontology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Science, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City 852-8523, Japan.
Abstract:
Diminished leptin signaling to the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (ARH) may induce calorie restriction (CR)-specific neuroendocrine and metabolic adaptation, which is potentially relevant to the effect of CR. The present study investigated whether restoration of leptin signaling to the ARH could reverse CR-induced alterations in neuropeptide gene expression in rats. Male F344 rats, fed ad libitum or a 30% CR diet from 6 weeks of age, received leptin or vehicle intracerebroventricularly for 14 days via osmotic mini-pumps implanted in the subcutis at 34 weeks of age. The messenger RNA levels were quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using total RNA extracted from microdissected tissues containing the ARH. The results indicated that leptin administration reversed the upregulated expression of neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein genes in CR rats, suggesting the possibility of a role for the leptin-ARH pathway in the effect of CR.
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