Neuropeptide Y gene expression in the jerboa arcuate nucleus: modulation by food deprivation and relationship with hibernation

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 305; no. 1; pp. 21 - 24
• Main Authors: El Ouezzani, Seloua, Lafon, Pierrette, Tramu, Gérard, Magoul, Rabia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-06-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Arcuate nucleus; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors; Food deprivation; Food Deprivation - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression - physiology; Hibernation; Hibernation - physiology; In Situ Hybridization; Jerboa; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptide Y - genetics; Reference Values; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Rodentia; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Neuropeptide Y; Food deprivation; Jerboa; Arcuate nucleus; Hibernation; Gene expression; In situ hybridization; Vertebrata; Energy metabolism; Mammalia; Fasting; Central nervous system; Rodentia; Hypothalamus; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(01)01803-1

Using in situ hybridization, the mRNA levels encoding neuropeptide Y (NPY) was investigated in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of jerboas under three different states of energy balance. (1) normally feeding animals, (2) hibernating animals and finally (3) animals food deprived for 5 days. The hibernating and food deprived jerboas exhibited a significant increase (130%;
P<0.05 and 210%;
P<0.01, respectively) of mRNA expression as compared with controls. This elevated NPY mRNA expression supports the hypothesis that NPY may be implicated in abnormal feeding behaviour associated with eating deprivation. The stimulation of NPY gene expression in hibernating jerboas may be related to food deprivation and / or cold exposure since NPY is known to be an hypothermiant factor. It is thus envisaged that NPY within neurons of the ARC plays an integrative role in the control of energy metabolism.