The distribution and mechanism of action of ghrelin in the CNS demonstrates a novel hypothalamic circuit regulating energy homeostasis

Neuron. 2003 Feb 20;37(4):649-61. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00063-1.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal peptide hormone ghrelin stimulates appetite in rodents and humans via hypothalamic actions. We discovered expression of ghrelin in a previously uncharacterized group of neurons adjacent to the third ventricle between the dorsal, ventral, paraventricular, and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei. These neurons send efferents onto key hypothalamic circuits, including those producing neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti-related protein (AGRP), proopiomelanocortin (POMC) products, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Within the hypothalamus, ghrelin bound mostly on presynaptic terminals of NPY neurons. Using electrophysiological recordings, we found that ghrelin stimulated the activity of arcuate NPY neurons and mimicked the effect of NPY in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH). We propose that at these sites, release of ghrelin may stimulate the release of orexigenic peptides and neurotransmitters, thus representing a novel regulatory circuit controlling energy homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agouti-Related Protein
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System / cytology
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / biosynthesis
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Female
  • Ghrelin
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Hypothalamus / cytology
  • Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Net / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuropeptide Y / biosynthesis
  • Organ Specificity
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / drug effects
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Peptide Hormones / metabolism*
  • Peptide Hormones / pharmacology
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / biosynthesis
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins*
  • Rats

Substances

  • AGRP protein, rat
  • Agouti-Related Protein
  • Agrp protein, mouse
  • Ghrelin
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Proteins
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone