open access

Vol 65, No 1 (2014)
Original paper
Submitted: 2014-02-19
Accepted: 2014-02-19
Published online: 2014-02-19
Get Citation

Enhanced food intake by progesterone-treated female rats is related to changes in neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus

Ewa Stelmańska, Elżbieta Sucajtys-Szulc
DOI: 10.5603/EP.2014.0007
·
Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(1):46-56.

open access

Vol 65, No 1 (2014)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2014-02-19
Accepted: 2014-02-19
Published online: 2014-02-19

Abstract

Introduction: Progesterone-treated females eat more food, but the mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of progesterone on neuropeptide genes expression in rat hypothalamus.

Material and methods: Experiments were carried out on female and male Wistar rats. Animals were treated with progesterone (100 mg per rat) for 28 days. NPY and CART mRNA levels in hypothalamus were quantified by real-time PCR. The serum progesterone concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay.

Results: Progesterone administration to females caused an increase in food intake, body mass, and white adipose tissue mass. Elevated circulating progesterone concentration up-regulated NPY and down-regulated CART genes expression in hypothalamus of females. In males, elevated blood progesterone concentration had no effect on food intake, body and fat mass and on the neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus. Moreover, administration of progesterone in females resulted in decrease of PR mRNA level in hypothalamus. No effect of progesterone administration on PR mRNA level in hypothalamus of males was found.

Conclusions: The changes in neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus may lead to stimulation of appetite and might explain the observed increase in food intake, body and adipose tissue mass in progesterone-treated females. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (1): 46–53)

Abstract

Introduction: Progesterone-treated females eat more food, but the mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of progesterone on neuropeptide genes expression in rat hypothalamus.

Material and methods: Experiments were carried out on female and male Wistar rats. Animals were treated with progesterone (100 mg per rat) for 28 days. NPY and CART mRNA levels in hypothalamus were quantified by real-time PCR. The serum progesterone concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay.

Results: Progesterone administration to females caused an increase in food intake, body mass, and white adipose tissue mass. Elevated circulating progesterone concentration up-regulated NPY and down-regulated CART genes expression in hypothalamus of females. In males, elevated blood progesterone concentration had no effect on food intake, body and fat mass and on the neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus. Moreover, administration of progesterone in females resulted in decrease of PR mRNA level in hypothalamus. No effect of progesterone administration on PR mRNA level in hypothalamus of males was found.

Conclusions: The changes in neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus may lead to stimulation of appetite and might explain the observed increase in food intake, body and adipose tissue mass in progesterone-treated females. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (1): 46–53)

Get Citation

Keywords

progesterone; cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART); neuropeptide Y (NPY); progesterone receptor (PR)

About this article
Title

Enhanced food intake by progesterone-treated female rats is related to changes in neuropeptide genes expression in hypothalamus

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 65, No 1 (2014)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

46-56

Published online

2014-02-19

Page views

2280

Article views/downloads

2221

DOI

10.5603/EP.2014.0007

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(1):46-56.

Keywords

progesterone
cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART)
neuropeptide Y (NPY)
progesterone receptor (PR)

Authors

Ewa Stelmańska
Elżbieta Sucajtys-Szulc

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

Via MedicaWydawcą jest  VM Media Group sp. z o.o., Grupa Via Medica, ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk

tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail:  viamedica@viamedica.pl