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Increased melanocortin activity may contribute to the reduced intake of high protein diets
Author(s) -
Guest Dolores Doane,
Barnes Meredith B,
Heppner Kristy M,
Beverly J Lee
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.1022.4
Subject(s) - melanocortin , high protein diet , endocrinology , medicine , melanocortin 4 receptor , high protein , appetite , melanocortin 3 receptor , food intake , dietary protein , chemistry , biology , melanocortin receptor , body weight , food science , hormone
Meals high in protein are associated with greater satiety and reduced intake. Increased melanocortin activity, through MC4R, in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) may facilitate this reduced food intake. We tested whether the decrease in food intake observed in animals fed a high protein diet is influenced by melanocortin activity in the MBH. Melanocortin activity was altered by continuous infusion of a MC4R agonist (MTII) or antagonist (SHU 9119) into the ventricles of rats fed either a standard protein diet (C; 15:69:16) or a high protein diet (HP; 50% protein: 34% CHO: 16% fat). Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fitted with a mini‐osmotic pump, filled with one of 3 solutions: 0.5ug/uL MTII, 0.5ug/uL SHU9119, or vehicle (0.9% sterile saline). Rats consumed 14% less high protein diet (p<0.001) during the first week of the study. Intake of rats fed the standard diet and receiving MTII was the same as vehicle‐treated rats fed the high protein diet (9.1±0.2 vs. 8.7±0.2, p>0.05). Rats fed high protein diet and receiving SHU9119 consumed the same amount of food as vehicle‐treated rats on the standard protein diet (10.5±0.6 vs. 9.9±0.1, p>0.05). These results are consistent with an increase in melanocortin activity contributing to the reduced food intake of high protein diets. DD Guest supported by APS Porter Physiology Development Award.