Abstract
Administration of CNTF durably reduces food intake and body weight in obese humans and rodent models. However, the involvement of endogenous CNTF in the central regulation of energy homeostasis needs to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that CNTF and its receptor are expressed in the arcuate nucleus, a key hypothalamic region controlling food intake, and that CNTF levels are inversely correlated to body weight in rats fed a high-sucrose diet. Thus endogenous CNTF may act, in some individuals, as a protective factor against weight gain during hypercaloric diet and could account for individual differences in the susceptibility to obesity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Appetite Regulation / drug effects
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Appetite Regulation / genetics*
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Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / metabolism*
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / administration & dosage
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / physiology*
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / physiology
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Energy Metabolism / drug effects
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Energy Metabolism / genetics*
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Female
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Gene Expression
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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Homeostasis
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Male
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
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Obesity / genetics
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Obesity / prevention & control
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Phosphorylation
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
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Weight Gain / drug effects
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Weight Gain / genetics*
Substances
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
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Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor alpha Subunit
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Recombinant Proteins
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases