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Published on: April 28, 2016
A new anorexigenic protein, nesfatin-1
Hiroyuki Shimizu1, Aya Ohsaki, Sinsuke Oh-I
1aDepartment of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. hshimizu@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Peptides
|May 20, 2009
Summary
Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide, reduces food intake in rats, particularly in obesity models. Its mid-segment shows promise for appetite control, potentially interacting with other brain pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Appetite Regulation
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide identified in the rat hypothalamus.
- Hypothalamic nesfatin-1 expression decreases during starvation.
- Nesfatin-1 neurons coexist with other hypothalamic neuropeptides like oxytocin and vasopressin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of nesfatin-1 in appetite regulation.
- To explore the mechanism of nesfatin-1-induced anorexia.
- To evaluate the potential of nesfatin-1 and its fragments as anti-obesity agents.
Main Methods:
- Administration of nesfatin-1 and its mid-segment via intracerebroventricular and intraperitoneal routes in male Wistar and Zucker fatty rats.
- Assessment of food intake inhibition and duration.
- Analysis of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-related peptide (CART) mRNA expression in specific brain nuclei (nucleus of the solitary tract and arcuate nucleus).
Main Results:
- Intracerebroventricular nesfatin-1 dose-dependently inhibited food intake in both normal and leptin-resistant obese rats.
- Intraperitoneal administration of nesfatin-1 and its mid-segment also dose-dependently reduced food intake.
- The mid-segment of nesfatin-1 decreased food intake in leptin-resistant obesity models and increased POMC and CART mRNA in the nucleus of the solitary tract.
Conclusions:
- Nesfatin-1 acts as a potent anorexigenic peptide, affecting food intake through central and peripheral administration.
- The mid-segment of nesfatin-1 demonstrates efficacy in reducing appetite, even in leptin-resistant states.
- Nesfatin-1 may influence appetite via interactions with the melanocortin pathway, as suggested by altered POMC and CART expression.
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