• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 1999

These experiments were performed to investigate the effect of saline, monosodium L-glutamate(MSG), MSG-phenylalanine, and/or phenylalanine on TH-immunoreactivity in arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and hind limb area of cerebral cortex in rats using the immunohistochemical methods. The result were as follows: 1. TH-immunoreactive neurons in hind limb area of cerebral cortex and arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus were decreased in MSG treated group compared to the saline treated group and also lesions in arcuate nucleus and median eminence of hypothalamus were increased with MSG treatment 2. TH-immunoreactive neurons in median eminence and arcuate nucleus were increased in phenylalanine treated group compared to the saline treated group and also neurons were more increased in lamina V of hind limb area of cerebral cortex with phenylalanine treatment. 3. TH-immunoreactive neurons in median eminence and arcuate nucleus were decreased in MSG-phenylalanine treated group compared to the phenylalanine treated group and increased compared to the MSG treated group. In lamina V of hind limb area of cerebral cortex, TH-immunoreactive neurons were more decreased in MSG-phenylalanine treated group than that of the phenylalanine treated group, and more increased than that of MSG treated group. These experiments indicated that TH-immunoreactive neurons in hypothalamus and cerebral cortex were increased due to the activation of phenylalanine and decreased by suppressing activation of phenylalanine through MSG treatment.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.226-230
• /
• 1994

The characteristics of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release as factors controlling neural activities in the hypothalamus which is an important regulatory site for cardiovascular function wre studied. Two groups of animals : male spontaneously hyperterisive rat (SHR) and age-matched nomotensive wistar rat (NW) were used in this study. Animals at 4, 6 and 16 weeks of age were sacrificed by decapitiation and the hypothalamus was dissected out. Voltage-dependent calcium uptake and norepinephrine release were determined from hypothalamic synaptosomes either in low potassium (5 mM) or high potassium (41 mM) stimulatory conditions by using ^{45}Ca$ isotope and HPLC-ECD techniques. Degrees of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release evoked by calcium uptake in the hypothalamus of prehypertensive phase (4 weeks old) of SHR were significantly smaller than those in NW of the same age. However, in the developmental phase (6 weeks old) and the established phase (16 weeks old) of hyperrtension in SHR, degrees of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release were similar to those of age-matched normotensive wistae eats. These data imply that the deficit in hypothalamic norepinephrine release might be an important underlying factor for the development of hypertension in SHR.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.99-114
• /
• 2003

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Chaihushugansan and Chaihuyigantang on the change of monoamine-contents in the hypothalamus of mice induced by the immobilization stress. Each formula(1.0g/kg) was injected intragastrically to mice 1 hour prior to the immobilzation stress(15 minutes) before measuring the change of monoamine-contents level in mice hypothalamus. The results were as follows: 1. DA content at control group showed significant change. CHSGS group and CHYGT group showed significant decrease.(P<0.05) 2. NE content of the control group was increased than normal group. NE content of the CHYGT group was shown a significant decrease than control group.(P<0.05) 3. DOPAC contents didn't show significant changes at any groups. 4. 5-HT contents didn't show significant changes at any groups. 5. 5-HIAA contents at CHSGS group and CHYGT group showed signifiant changes.(P<0.05, 0.01) These data revealed that chaihushugansan and chaihuyigantang might have the anti-stress effect through the control of DA and NE contents in the hypothalamus.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.185-197
• /
• 2010

The reproduction of animals is a means to maintain their species. The golden hamsters are seasonal breeders, and their reproduction is regulated by the photoperiod. The shifts of the sexual functions imply the changes of the protein expression, and those are reflected by the proteome. Thus the present study was to examine via two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2d PAGE), the physiological changes and the alterations of protein expressions in hypothalamus upon the reproductive situation related to the pineal gland. Among the pineal intact animals, the reproductive functions were sustained in animals housed in long photoperiod (LP) but regressed in animals housed in short photoperiod. And those pinealectomized animals showed high sexual activities regardless of photoperiod. Ultimately they were branched into dichotomy, sexually active and inactive animals. Apart from the changes of physiological parameters upon the reproductive conditions, there were obvious differences in proteins extracted from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus of LP animals presented high levels of enzymes which are involved in the production of energy, glycolysis and Krebs cycle. The increased energy might be related to the GnRH synthesis in hypothalamus and indirectly to the constant cell divisions in spermatogenesis. Taken together, the impacts of the photoperiodic information controlling reproduction could be observed through 2d PAGE. Therefore, the present results suggest the potential of biomarkers collectively to diagnose the fertility and the infertility by way of proteomics in organs with regard to the reproductive system, further could be applied to diagnose various diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2001

The precise mechanism of set-point regulation in hypothalamus was not elucidated. Nitric oxide synthases(NOS) were detected in hypothalamus, however, the roles of NO in hypothalamus was not fully studied. So, we tested the effects of NO on body temperature because preoptic-anterior hypothalamus was known as the presumptive primary fever-producing site. NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 4 nmol, i.c.v.) elicited marked febrile response, and this febrile response was completely blocked by indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor). But, ODQ (selective guanylate cyclase inhibitor, $50\;{\mu}g,$ i.c.v.) did not inhibit fever induced by SNP. The cyclic GMP analogue dibutyryl-cGMP $(100\;{\mu}g,\;i.c.v.)$ induced significant pyreses, which is blocked by indomethacin. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME, non selective NOS inhibitor) inhibited fever induced by $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\bata},\;10\;ng,\;i.c.v.),$ one of endogenous pyrogens. These results indicate that NO may have an important role, not related to stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase, in the signal pathway of thermoregulation in hypothalamus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.1116-1119
• /
• 2003

Ma huang, the dried plant stem of Ephedra Intermedia Schrenk et CA, is one of the well known medicinal herbs, and has been used for the diaphoretic, antiasthmatic, and diuretic actions. Ma huang is an ephedrine type alkaloid used for the weight loss and energy expenditure. Medications based on the Ma huang have been found to be effective in the treatment of obesity. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino-acid peptide and concentrated in the hypothalamus, stimulates feeding desire and decrease energy expenditure. In the present study, the effect of Ma huang on the expression of NPY in the rat hypothalamus was investigated using immunohistochemistry. The present results demonstrated that Ma huang treatment suppressed weight gain and NPY expression in the hypothalamus depending upon the dosage used. Based on the results, it can be suggested that Ma huang treatment is effective in curbing the desire for food via modulation of NPY expression under the normal conditions.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 2022

Hypothalamus is a brain region that controls food intake and energy expenditure while sensing signals that convey information about energy status. Within the hypothalamus, molecularly and functionally distinct neurons work in concert under physiological conditions. However, under pathological conditions such as in diet-induced obesity (DIO) model, these neurons show dysfunctional firing patterns and distorted regulation by neurotransmitters and neurohormones. Concurrently, resident glial cells including astrocytes dramatically transform into reactive states. In particular, it has been reported that reactive astrogliosis is observed in the hypothalamus, along with various neuroinflammatory signals. However, how the reactive astrocytes control and modulate DIO by influencing neighboring neurons is not well understood. Recently, new lines of evidence have emerged indicating that these reactive astrocytes directly contribute to the pathology of obesity by synthesizing and tonically releasing the major inhibitory transmitter GABA. The released GABA strongly inhibits the neighboring neurons that control energy expenditure. These surprising findings shed light on the interplay between reactive astrocytes and neighboring neurons in the hypothalamus. This review summarizes recent discoveries related to the functions of hypothalamic reactive astrocytes in obesity and raises new potential therapeutic targets against obesity.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.186-194
• /
• 2017

A brain-enriched secreting signal peptide, NELL2, has been suggested to play multiple roles in the development, survival, and activity of neurons in mammal. We investigated here a possible involvement of central NELL2 in regulating feeding behavior and metabolism. In situ hybridization and an immunohistochemical approach were used to determine expression of NELL2 as well as its colocalization with proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat hypothalamus. To investigate the effect of NELL2 on feeding behavior, 2 nmole of antisense NELL2 oligodeoxynucleotide was administered into the lateral ventricle of adult male rat brains for 6 consecutive days, and changes in daily body weight, food, and water intake were monitored. Metabolic state-dependent NELL2 expression in the hypothalamus was tested in vivo using a fasting model. NELL2 was noticeably expressed in the hypothalamic nuclei controlling feeding behavior. Furthermore, all arcuatic POMC and NPY positive neurons produced NELL2. The NELL2 gene expression in the hypothalamus was up-regulated by fasting. However, NELL2 did not affect POMC and NPY gene expression in the hypothalamus. A blockade of NELL2 production in the hypothalamus led to a reduction in daily food intake, followed by a loss in body weight without a change in daily water intake in normal diet condition. NELL2 did not affect short-term hunger dependent appetite behavior. Our data suggests that hypothalamic NELL2 is associated with appetite behavior, and thus central NELL2 could be a new therapeutic target for obesity.

• Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.248-253
• /
• 2018

Background: Sirtuins mediate metabolic responses to nutrient availability and slow aging and accompanying decline in health. This study was designed to assess the expressions of sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and sirtuin3 (SIRT3) in the liver and hypothalamus after duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery in rats. Methods: A total of 38 rats were randomly assigned to either sham group (n=8) or DJB group (n=30). DJB group was again divided into three groups according to the elapsed time after surgery (10 weeks, DJB10; 16 week, DJB16; 28 week, DJB28). The mRNA and protein expressions of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in the liver and hypothalamus were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analyses. $NAD^+/NADH$ ratio was also measured. Results: We found increased mRNA and protein expression levels of SIRT1 in the liver of DJB16 and DJB28 groups compared with those of sham group. The mRNA and protein expressions of SIRT3 in the liver of DJB group increased proportionally to the elapsed time after DJB surgery. The mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 in the hypothalamus increased in DJB16 and DJB28 groups and protein expression levels of SIRT1 in the hypothalamus increased in DJB10, DBJ16, and DJB28 groups compared with sham group. We observed that mRNA and protein levels of SIRT3 in the hypothalamus of DJB group were not changed. Conclusion: This study proves that DJB increases SIRT1 and SIRT3 expressions in the liver and SIRT1 expression in the hypothalamus. These results suggest the possibility of sirtuins being involved in bypass surgery-induced metabolic changes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effects of mixed water extract of Plantaginis Semen & Poria (CJB) on obese rats induced with high fat diet. Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups; Normal group, high-fat (HF) group, HF+CJB(100 mg/kg, P.O.) for 8 weeks. The body weight, food intake and weights of adipose tissues were measured, respectively. Lipid profiles in serum were analyzed by automatic analyzer of blood. Obese marker proteins and the changes of NPY and LR immunoreactivities in hypothalamus were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results : CJB significantly reduced body weight, food intake, adipose tissue weights compared to HF group. Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly higher in HF group than in Normal group however, CJB significantly lowered those of HF group. HDL-cholesterol level in CJB groups was elevated compared to HF group. The pAMPK in hypothalamus were decreased in that of HF group and that of CJB group decreased. Inversely, ACC was increased in HF group and that of CJB groups decrease. Expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in hypothalamus was increased by CJB treatment. However, $PPAR{\alpha}$ levels in CJB group were decreased compared to HF group. The expressions of NPY and LR in PVN and ARC of hypothalamus were decreased in CJB group, respectively. Conclusion : Administration of CJB can play anti-obesity through regulations of NPY and LR activities and obesity marker proteins in obese rat's hypothalamus.