Leptin receptor-expressing neurons in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus contribute to weight loss caused by fourth ventricle leptin infusions

Marissa Seamon, Won Mo Ahn, Ai Jun Li, Sue Ritter, Ruth B.S. Harris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Seamon M, Ahn WM, Li AJ, Ritter S, Harris RB. Leptin receptor-expressing neurons in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus contribute to weight loss caused by fourth ventricle leptin infusions. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 317: E586-E596, 2019. First published July 30, 2019; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00205.2019.-Leptin administration into the hindbrain, and specifically the nucleus of the solitary tract, increases phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3), a marker of leptin receptor activation, in hypothalamic nuclei known to express leptin receptors. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) shows the greatest response, with a threefold increase in pSTAT3. This experiment tested the importance of VMH leptin receptor-expressing neurons in mediating weight loss caused by fourth ventricle (4V) leptin infusion. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral VMH 75-nL injections of 260 ng/μL of leptin-conjugated saporin (Lep-Sap) or blank-saporin (Blk-Sap). After 23 days they were fitted with 4V infusion cannulas and 1 wk later adapted to housing in a calorimeter before they were infused with 0.9 μg leptin/day for 14 days. There was no effect of VMH Lep-Sap on weight gain or glucose clearance before leptin infusion. Leptin inhibited food intake and respiratory exchange ratio in Blk-Sap but not Lep-Sap rats. Leptin had no effect on energy expenditure or brown adipose tissue temperature of either group. Inguinal and epididymal fat were significantly reduced in leptin-treated Blk-Sap rats, but the response was greatly attenuated in Lep-Sap rats. VMH pSTAT3 was increased in leptin-treated Blk-Sap but not Lep-Sap rats. These results support the concept that leptin-induced weight loss results from an integrated response across different brain areas. They also support previous reports that VMH leptin receptors do not play a significant role in maintaining energy balance in basal conditions but limit weight gain during positive energy balance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E586-E596
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume317
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Body fat
  • Food intake
  • Integration
  • Leptin-saporin
  • Rats

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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