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The central oxytocin system mediates the actions of nesfatin‐1
Author(s) -
Yosten Gina L. C.,
Samson Willis K.
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.623.2
Subject(s) - oxytocin , melanocortin , medicine , endocrinology , vasotocin , saline , cannula , antagonist , receptor , ovariectomized rat , neuropeptide , oxytocin receptor , ritanserin , receptor antagonist , chemistry , hormone , surgery
Nesfatin‐1, a recently discovered neuropeptide, significantly reduces food intake and weight gain when injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) into male rats. In previous studies, we showed that i.c.v. nesfatin‐1 was also capable of increasing mean arterial pressure (MAP) in conscious rats, and that this effect, like the effect on feeding, was blocked by pretreatment with the melanocortin ¾ receptor antagonist, SHU9119. Because oxytocin (OT) has been shown to signal dendritically to influence both appetite and cardiovascular function, and may be involved in the central melanocortin circuit, we sought to determine if the actions of nesfatin‐1 were dependent on functional central OT receptors. Stainless steel cannulae were implanted into the lateral cerebroventricle of adult male rats. For feeding studies, rats were injected with either the OT receptor antagonist, [D‐(CH2)5,Tyr(me)2,Orn8]‐vasotocin (OVT) and nesfatin‐1, or nesfatin‐1 alone. Food intake was recorded every 30 minutes. For cardiovascular studies, an additional cannula was implanted into the carotid artery to measure MAP. Rats were pretreated with OVT or saline i.c.v., and then treated with either a pressor dose of nesfatin‐1 or saline i.c.v.. We found that pretreatment with OVT abrogated the effect of nesfatin‐1 on both food intake and MAP, indicating that the actions of nesfatin‐1 are likely dependent on the central oxytocin system.