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Irisin: A myokine with locomotor activity
Weizhen Zhang1, Lin Chang2, Chao Zhang3
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
Neuroscience Letters
|April 6, 2015
Summary
Exercise hormone irisin, secreted by skeletal muscle, boosts locomotion and metabolic activity when administered centrally in rats. This suggests irisin signals the brain to link physical activity with energy expenditure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Physical exercise profoundly impacts brain function, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Irisin, a hormone released from skeletal muscle post-exercise, is implicated in mediating these effects.
- Understanding irisin's central role is crucial for deciphering exercise-brain interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the central nervous system effects of irisin on locomotion in a rat model.
- To determine if irisin influences metabolic activity in conjunction with motor behavior.
Main Methods:
- Central administration of irisin (polypeptide hormone) or control peptide (IgG Fc) into the brain of rats.
- Assessment of locomotor activity, including total distance, ambulatory counts, and vertical movements.
- Measurement of metabolic parameters: oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and heat generation.
Main Results:
- Central irisin significantly increased total travel distance, ambulatory counts, and vertical activity.
- Irisin administration led to a significant decrease in resting time.
- Metabolic activity, indicated by increased oxygen consumption, CO2 production, and heat, was significantly elevated by irisin.
Conclusions:
- Central irisin administration enhances locomotion and metabolic rate in rats.
- Irisin acts as a central signal linking physical activity to coordinated locomotion and energy expenditure.
- These findings elucidate a novel pathway through which exercise influences the central nervous system.
