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Age‐related central regulation of orexin and NPY in the short‐lived African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri
Author(s) -
Montesano Alessia,
Baumgart Mario,
Avallone Luigi,
Castaldo Luciana,
Lucini Carla,
Tozzini Eva Terzibasi,
Cellerino Alessandro,
D'Angelo Livia,
Girolamo Paolo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.24638
Subject(s) - orexigenic , biology , neuropeptide y receptor , orexin , medicine , endocrinology , neuropeptide , diencephalon , hypothalamus , killifish , central nervous system , neuroscience , fish <actinopterygii> , receptor , biochemistry , fishery
Abstract Orexin A (OXA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are two hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and food intake in all vertebrates. Accumulating evidences document that they undergo age‐related modifications, with consequences on metabolism, sleep/wake disorders and progression of neurodegenerations. The present study addressed the age related changes in expression and distribution of orexin A (its precursor is also known as hypocretin— HCRT ) and NPY, and their regulation by food intake in the short‐lived vertebrate model Nothobranchius furzeri . Our experiments, conducted on male specimens, show that: (a) HCRT and OXA and NPY mRNA and protein are localized in neurons of diencephalon and optic tectum, as well as in numerous fibers projecting through the entire neuroaxis, and are colocalized in specific nuclei; (b) in course of aging, HCRT and NPY expressing neurons are localized also in telencephalon and rhombencephalon; (c) HCRT expressing neurons increased slightly in the diencephalic area of old animals and in fasted animals, whereas NPY increased sharply; (d) central HCRT levels are not regulated neither in course of aging nor by food intake; and (e) central NPY levels are augmented in course of aging, and regulated by food intake only in young. These findings represent a great novelty in the study of central orexinergic and NPY‐ergic systems in vertebrates', demonstrating an uncommon and unprecedented described regulation of these two orexigenic neuropeptides.