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Published on: April 28, 2016
Hypothalamic gene expression following ghrelin therapy to gastrectomized rodents
Emil Egecioglu1, Björn Stenström, Scarlett B Pinnock
1Department of Physiology/Endocrinology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, P.O. Box 434, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
Regulatory Peptides
|October 16, 2007
Summary
Ghrelin hormone replacement activated appetite-stimulating pathways, but removing the stomach (gastrectomy) did not significantly alter these key energy balance genes. Ghrelin mimetics also activated these pathways.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ghrelin, a gastric hormone, is known for its appetite-stimulating effects.
- Understanding ghrelin's role in energy balance is crucial for metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ghrelin depletion (via gastrectomy) and ghrelin replacement on hypothalamic gene expression related to energy balance.
- To determine if ghrelin signaling pathways are activated by ghrelin and its mimetics.
Main Methods:
- Mice underwent gastrectomy and were subsequently treated with ghrelin or vehicle for 8 weeks.
- Gene expression of hypothalamic peptides (NPY, AgRP, POMC, MCH) was analyzed using mRNA analysis.
- Rats were treated with a ghrelin mimetic (MK-0677) for 2 weeks.
Main Results:
- Gastrectomy minimally affected hypothalamic gene expression, except for an increase in NPY mRNA.
- Ghrelin treatment upregulated orexigenic peptides (NPY, AgRP) and downregulated anorexigenic peptide (POMC) mRNA.
- Ghrelin mimetic treatment increased NPY and POMC mRNA in the arcuate nucleus and MCH mRNA in the lateral hypothalamus.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin signaling pathways involved in energy balance are activated by ghrelin and ghrelin mimetics.
- Gastrectomy alone had limited effects on these specific hypothalamic gene expression patterns.
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