Ghrelin-Induced Food Intake, But not GH Secretion, Requires the Expression of the GH Receptor in the Brain of Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Wasinski ◽  
Franco Barrile ◽  
João A B Pedroso ◽  
Paula G F Quaresma ◽  
Willian O dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Fiber Density ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Gh Receptor ◽  
Fos Expression ◽  
Plasma Gh ◽  
Agouti Related Protein ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Ghrelin stimulates both growth hormone (GH) secretion and food intake. The orexigenic action of ghrelin is mainly mediated by neurons that co-express agouti-related protein (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus (ARH). GH also stimulates food intake and, importantly, ARH AgRP/NPY neurons express GH receptor (GHR). Thus, ghrelin-induced GH secretion may contribute to the orexigenic effect of ghrelin. Here, we investigated the response to ghrelin in male mice carrying GHR ablation specifically in neurons (Brain GHR KO mice) or exclusively in ARH AgRP/NPY neurons (AgRP GHR KO mice). Although Brain GHR KO mice showed normal ghrelin-induced increase in plasma GH levels, these mutants lacked the expected orexigenic response to ghrelin. Additionally, Brain GHR KO mice displayed reduced hypothalamic levels of Npy and Ghsr mRNA and did not elicit ghrelin-induced c-Fos expression in the ARH. Furthermore, Brain GHR KO mice exhibited a prominent reduction in AgRP fiber density in the ARH and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH). In contrast, AgRP GHR KO mice showed no changes in the hypothalamic Npy and Ghsr mRNAs and conserved ghrelin-induced food intake and c-Fos expression in the ARH. AgRP GHR KO mice displayed a reduced AgRP fiber density (~16%) in the PVH, but this reduction was less than that observed in Brain GHR KO mice (~61%). Our findings indicate that GHR signaling in the brain is required for the orexigenic effect of ghrelin, independently of GH action on ARH AgRP/NPY neurons.

Neurochemical phenotype of hypothalamic neurons showing Fos expression 23 h after intracranial AgRP

2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (6) ◽  
pp. R1773-R1781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiyuan Zheng ◽  
Michele M. Corkern ◽  
Scott M. Crousillac ◽  
Laurel M. Patterson ◽  
Curtis B. Phifer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Lateral Hypothalamus ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Light Phase ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Melanin Concentrating Hormone ◽  
Double Label ◽  
Fos Expression ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is coexpressed with neuropeptide Y (NPY) in a population of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus and stimulates food intake for up to 7 days if injected intracerebroventricularly. The prolonged food intake stimulation does not seem to depend on continued competition at the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), because the relatively specific MC4R agonist MTII regains its ability to suppress food intake 24 h after AgRP injection. Intracerebroventricular AgRP also stimulates c-Fos expression 24 h after injection in several brain areas, so the neurons exhibiting delayed Fos expression might be particularly important in feeding behavior. Thus we aimed to identify the neurochemical phenotype of some of these neurons in select hypothalamic areas, using double-label immunohistochemistry. AgRP-injected rats ingested significantly more chow (10.2 ± 0.6 g) vs. saline controls (3.4 ± 0.7 g) in the first 9 h (light phase) after injection. In the lateral hypothalamus (particularly the perifornical area) 23 h after injection, AgRP induced significantly more Fos vs. saline in orexin-A (OXA) neurons (25.6 ± 4.9 vs. 4.8 ± 3.1%), but not in melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) or cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) neurons. In the ARC, AgRP induced significantly more Fos in CART (40.6 ± 5.9 vs. 13.4 ± 1.8%) but not NPY neurons. In the paraventricular nucleus, there was no significant difference in Fos expression induced by AgRP vs. saline in oxytocin and CART neurons. We conclude that the long-lasting hyperphagia induced by AgRP is correlated with and possibly partially mediated by hyperactive OXA neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and CART neurons in the ARC, but not by NPY and MCH neurons. The substantial increase in light-phase food intake by AgRP supports a role for the arousing effects of OXA. Activation of CART neurons in the ARC (which likely coexpress proopiomelanocortin) could indicate attempts to activate counterregulatory decreases in food intake.

scholarly journals Ghrelin Stimulates GH But Not Food Intake in Arcuate Nucleus Ablated Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 143 (9) ◽  
pp. 3268-3275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Tamura ◽  
Jun Kamegai ◽  
Takako Shimizu ◽  
Shinya Ishii ◽  
Hitoshi Sugihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Normal Control ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Monosodium Glutamate ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Appetite Control ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Increase Food Intake ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Plasma Gh

Abstract Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a), was originally purified from the rat stomach. Ghrelin mRNA and peptide have also been detected in the hypothalamus and pituitary. Ghrelin is a novel acylated peptide that regulates GH release and energy metabolism. GHS-R1a mRNA is expressed in the pituitary gland as well as in several areas of the brain including the hypothalamus. In this study, we examined whether ghrelin could stimulate GH secretion and feeding in chronic GHRH, neuropeptide Y, and agouti-related protein deficient rats that were neonatally treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG), which destroys the neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). Intravenous (iv) administration of rat ghrelin (10 μg/kg body weight) increased plasma GH levels significantly in the normal adult male rats during a GH trough period of pulsatile GH secretion, while iv injection of ghrelin in MSG-treated rats resulted in a markedly attenuated GH response. When rat ghrelin (10 μg/rat) was administered intracerebroventricular (icv), plasma GH levels were increased comparably in normal control and MSG-treated rats. However, the GH release after icv injection of ghrelin was markedly diminished compared with that after iv administration of a small amount of ghrelin in normal control rats (icv: 10 μg/rat, iv: approximately 4.0 μg/rat), indicating that the GH-releasing activity of exogenous ghrelin is route dependent and at least in part via hypothalamic ARC. The icv administration of 1 μg of ghrelin increased significantly 4-h food intake in normal control, whereas the peptide did not increase food intake in MSG-treated rats, indicating that the feeding response to ghrelin requires intact ARC. Taken together, the primary action of ghrelin on appetite control and GH releasing activity is via the ARC even though it might act on another type of GHS-R besides GHS-R1a.

Lateral ventricular ghrelin and fourth ventricular ghrelin induce similar increases in food intake and patterns of hypothalamic gene expression

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. R1565-R1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly P. Kinzig ◽  
Karen A. Scott ◽  
Jayson Hyun ◽  
Sheng Bi ◽  
Timothy H. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Central Administration ◽  
Stimulatory Action ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Ghrelin Receptors ◽  
The Brain

The gut peptide ghrelin has been shown to stimulate food intake after both peripheral and central administration, and the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus has been proposed to be the major site for mediating this feeding stimulatory action. Ghrelin receptors are widely distributed in the brain, and hindbrain ghrelin administration has been shown to potently stimulate feeding, suggesting that there may be other sites for ghrelin action. In the present study, we have further assessed potential sites for ghrelin action by comparing the ability of lateral and fourth ventricular ghrelin administration to stimulate food intake and alter patterns of hypothalamic gene expression. Ghrelin (0.32, 1, or 3.2 nmol) in the lateral or fourth ventricle significantly increased food intake in the first 4 h after injection, with no ventricle-dependent differences in degree or time course of hyperphagia. One nanomole of ghrelin into either the lateral or fourth ventricle resulted in similar increases in arcuate nucleus neuropeptide Y mRNA expression. Expression levels of agouti-related peptide or proopiomelanocortin mRNA were not affected by ghrelin administration. These data demonstrate that ghrelin can affect food intake and hypothalamic gene expression through interactions at multiple brain sites.

scholarly journals Changes in mRNA expression of arcuate nucleus appetite-regulating peptides during lactation in rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Suzuki ◽  
Keiko Nakahara ◽  
Keisuke Maruyama ◽  
Rieko Okame ◽  
Takuya Ensho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Peptide Yy ◽  
Weaning Food ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Acyl Ghrelin ◽  
Plasma Leptin ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

The contribution of hypothalamic appetite-regulating peptides to further hyperphagia accompanying the course of lactation in rats was investigated by using PCR array and real-time PCR. Furthermore, changes in the mRNA expression for appetite-regulating peptides in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) were analyzed at all stages of pregnancy and lactation, and also after weaning. Food intake was significantly higher during pregnancy, lactation, and after weaning than during non-lactation periods. During lactation, ARC expression of mRNAs for agouti-related protein (AgRP) and peptide YY was increased, whereas that of mRNAs for proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and cholecystokinin (CCK) was decreased, in comparison with non-lactation periods. The increase in AgRP mRNA expression during lactation was especially marked. The plasma level of leptin was significantly decreased during the course of lactation, whereas that of acyl-ghrelin was unchanged. In addition, food intake was negatively correlated with the plasma leptin level during lactation. This study has clarified synchronous changes in the expression of many appetite-regulating peptides in ARC of rats during lactation. Our results suggest that hyperphagia during lactation in rats is caused by decreases in POMC and CCK expression and increases in AgRP expression in ARC, the latter being most notable. Together with the decrease in the blood leptin level, such changes in mRNA expression may explain the further hyperphagia accompanying the course of lactation.

scholarly journals Altered Expression of Agouti-Related Protein and Its Colocalization with Neuropeptide Y in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus during Lactation*

Endocrinology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
pp. 2645-2650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peilin Chen ◽  
Chien Li ◽  
Carrie Haskell-Luevano ◽  
Roger D. Cone ◽  
M. Susan Smith
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Caudal Portion ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Abstract During lactation, the levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), which plays an important role in mediating food intake, are significantly elevated in a number of hypothalamic areas, including the arcuate nucleus (ARH). To identify additional hypothalamic systems that might be important in mediating the increase in food intake and alterations in energy homeostasis during lactation, the present studies examined the expression of agouti-related protein (AGRP), a recently described homologue of the skin agouti protein. AGRP is found in the hypothalamus and has been suggested to play an important role in the regulation of food intake. In the first experiment, animals were studied during diestrus of the estrous cycle, a stage of the cycle when estrogen levels are basal and similar to lactation, or during days 12–13 postpartum. Lactating animals had their litters adjusted to eight pups on day 2 postpartum. Brain tissue sections were used to measure AGRP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels by in situ hybridization. AGRP mRNA signal was found mostly in the ventromedial portion of the ARH, which has been shown to contain a high density of NPY neurons. A significant increase in AGRP mRNA content was observed in the mid- to caudal portion of the ARH of lactating animals compared with diestrous females. No difference was found in the rostral portion of the ARH. In the second experiment, double-label in situ hybridization for AGRP and NPY was performed in lactating animals to determine the extent of colocalization of the two peptides in the ARH, using 35S-labeled and digoxigenin-labeled antisense complementary RNA probes. It was found that almost all of the NPY-positive neurons throughout the ARH also expressed AGRP mRNA signal. Furthermore, AGRP expression was confined almost exclusively to NPY-positive neurons. Thus, the present study showed that during lactation, AGRP gene expression was significantly elevated in a subset of the AGRP neurons in the ARH. The high degree of colocalization of AGRP and NPY, coupled with previous reports from our laboratory demonstrating increased NPY expression in the ARH in response to suckling, suggests that AGRP and NPY are coordinately regulated and may be involved in the increase in food intake during lactation.

scholarly journals Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 antagonizes the effect of ghrelin in rodents

2020 ◽  
Vol 244 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Nurul Islam ◽  
Yuichiro Mita ◽  
Keisuke Maruyama ◽  
Ryota Tanida ◽  
Weidong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Ampk Activation ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Hypothalamic Nuclei ◽  
Acyl Ghrelin ◽  
Blood Glucose Elevation ◽  
The Brain

Ghrelin, a stomach-derived peptide, promotes feeding and growth hormone (GH) secretion. A recent study identified liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) as an endogenous inhibitor of ghrelin-induced GH secretion, but the effect of LEAP2 in the brain remained unknown. In this study, we showed that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of LEAP2 to rats suppressed central ghrelin functions including Fos expression in the hypothalamic nuclei, promotion of food intake, blood glucose elevation, and body temperature reduction. LEAP2 did not inhibit neuropeptide Y (NPY)-induced food intake or des-acyl ghrelin-induced reduction in body temperature, indicating that the inhibitory effects of LEAP2 were specific for GHSR. Plasma LEAP2 levels varied according to feeding status and seemed to be dependent on the hepatic Leap2 expression. Furthermore, ghrelin suppressed the expression of hepatic Leap2 via AMPK activation. Together, these results reveal that LEAP2 inhibits central ghrelin functions and crosstalk between liver and stomach.

Bombesin, but not amylin, blocks the orexigenic effect of peripheral ghrelin

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (4) ◽  
pp. R903-R913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kobelt ◽  
Miriam Goebel ◽  
Andreas Stengel ◽  
Marco Schmidtmann ◽  
Ivo R. van der Voort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Vehicle Group ◽  
Fos Expression ◽  
Crf Neurons ◽  
Stimulation Of

The interaction between ghrelin and bombesin or amylin administered intraperitoneally on food intake and brain neuronal activity was assessed by Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in nonfasted rats. Ghrelin (13 μg/kg ip) increased food intake compared with the vehicle group when measured at 30 min (g/kg: 3.66 ± 0.80 vs. 1.68 ± 0.42, P < 0.0087). Bombesin (8 μg/kg) injected intraperitoneally with ghrelin (13 μg/kg) blocked the orexigenic effect of ghrelin (1.18 ± 0.41 g/kg, P < 0.0002). Bombesin alone (4 and 8 μg/kg ip) exerted a dose-related nonsignificant reduction of food intake (g/kg: 1.08 ± 0.44, P > 0.45 and 0.55 ± 0.34, P > 0.16, respectively). By contrast, ghrelin-induced stimulation of food intake (g/kg: 3.96 ± 0.56 g/kg vs. vehicle 0.82 ± 0.59, P < 0.004) was not altered by amylin (1 and 5 μg/kg ip) (g/kg: 4.37 ± 1.12, P > 0.69, and 3.01 ± 0.78, respectively, P > 0.37). Ghrelin increased the number of FLI-positive neurons/section in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) compared with vehicle (median: 42 vs. 19, P < 0.008). Bombesin alone (4 and 8 μg/kg ip) did not induce FLI neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and coadministered with ghrelin did not alter ghrelin-induced FLI in the ARC. However, bombesin (8 μg/kg) with ghrelin significantly increased neuronal activity in the PVN approximately threefold compared with vehicle and ∼1.5-fold compared with the ghrelin group. Bombesin (8 μg/kg) with ghrelin injected intraperitoneally induced Fos expression in 22.4 ± 0.8% of CRF-immunoreactive neurons in the PVN. These results suggest that peripheral bombesin, unlike amylin, inhibits peripheral ghrelin induced food intake and enhances activation of CRF neurons in the PVN.

Microinjection of rat GH but not human IGF-I into a defined area of the hypothalamus inhibits endogenous GH secretion in rats

1997 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Minami ◽  
N Suzuki ◽  
H Sugihara ◽  
H Tamura ◽  
N Emoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Gh Receptor ◽  
Periventricular Nucleus ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Somatostatin Neurons ◽  
Secretory Pattern

Abstract It has been surmised that GH exerts feedback action on the hypothalamus and thereby regulates its own secretion. Our previous studies suggested that GH acts on somatostatin neurons in the hypothalamic periventricular nucleus (PeV) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). However, there remains uncertainty whether GH acts directly or indirectly through the generation of IGFs on the hypothalamus to regulate its own secretion. To examine this, rat GH (rGH) or human IGF-I was injected directly into a defined area of the hypothalamus, and the blood GH profile was observed in conscious male rats. In the rats given 0·5 μg rGH into the ARC or PeV bilaterally, GH secretion was inhibited, and the inhibition lasted for 12 h. During the period of inhibition, the duration and amplitude of GH pulses were significantly decreased and the episodic secretion of GH appeared irregularly compared with the vehicle-injected control rats. In control rats given the vehicle or those given rGH into the lateral hypothalamus, the blood GH profile did not change and pulsatile GH secretion was produced every 3 h. When 0·1 μg IGF-I was injected into the ARC or PeV bilaterally, the blood GH secretory pattern was not affected. Together with the results of our previous studies showing that c-fos gene expression was induced by systemic administration of GH and that GH receptor mRNA was contained in somatostatin neurons in the PeV and NPY neurons in the ARC, the data of the present study indicate that GH, but not IGF-I, acts on the cells in the ARC and the PeV or in their vicinity to inhibit its own secretion, presumably by activating the somatostatin and NPY neurons. Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 153, 283–290

scholarly journals Endogenous Melanocortin Antagonist in Fish: Structure, Brain Mapping, and Regulation by Fasting of the Goldfish Agouti-Related Protein Gene

Endocrinology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 144 (10) ◽  
pp. 4552-4561 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Cerdá-Reverter ◽  
Richard Ector Peter
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Brain Mapping ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Central Administration ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Melanocortin Peptides ◽  
Agouti Related Protein ◽  
Tuberal Nucleus

Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is a naturally occurring antagonist of melanocortin. In mammals, central AGRP expression is restricted to the arcuate nucleus in which it plays a key role in the control of energy balance by antagonizing melanocortin effects at melanocortin 4 receptors. In goldfish, melanocortin 4 receptor is profusely expressed within the main brain areas for the control of energy balance, and central administration of agonist or antagonist analogs inhibits or stimulates food intake, respectively. Here we demonstrate that the goldfish genome has a homologous gene to mammalian AGRP. Detailed brain mapping by in situ hybridization shows that AGRP is exclusively expressed in the ventrobasal hypothalamic lateral tuberal nucleus, the teleostean homolog of the arcuate nucleus. Fasting up-regulates its mRNA levels in the lateral tuberal nucleus. In the periphery, AGRP is expressed in several tissues including ovary, muscle, and ventral skin, suggesting that AGRP might regulate peripheral actions of melanocortin peptides. The results provide the first evidence for an endogenous melanocortin antagonist in nontetrapod species and suggest that hypothalamic overexpression during fasting might regulate the inhibitory effects of melanocortin peptides on food intake in goldfish.

GH-deficient dw/dw rats and lit/lit mice show increased Fos expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus following systemic injection of GH-releasing peptide-6

1995 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Dickson ◽  
O Doutrelant-Viltart ◽  
G Leng
Keyword(s):  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Cell Nuclei ◽  
Systemic Injection ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Fos Protein ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Central Actions ◽  
Fos Expression

Abstract In the rat, the synthetic GH secretagogue GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) acts centrally to activate a subpopulation of arcuate neurones as reflected by increased electrical activation and by the detection of Fos protein in cell nuclei. Since GHRP-6 also induces GH secretion via a direct action on the pituitary, we set out to determine whether the central actions of GHRP-6 are mediated by GH itself. First, we demonstrated that peripherally administered GHRP-6 induces Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus of GH-deficient animals (dw/dw rats and lit/lit mice). Secondly, in dw/dw rats, neither intracerebro-ventricular injection of 15 μg recombinant bovine GH nor 1 μg recombinant human IGF-I resulted in an increase in the number of cells expressing Fos protein in the arcuate nucleus (or in any other hypothalamic structure studied). These results support our hypothesis that GHRP-6 has a central site and mechanism of action and provide evidence to suggest that the activation of arcuate neurones by GHRP-6 is not mediated by a central action of GH or IGF-I. Furthermore, since the lit/lit mouse pituitary does not release GH following GHRP-6 administration, our finding that the central actions of GHRP-6 remain intact in these animals suggests the possible existence of two subpopulations of putative GHRP-6 receptors. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 146, 519–526

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