Nuclear translocation of the transcription factor STAT5 in the rat brain after systemic leptin administration

Neurosci Lett. 2007 May 7;417(3):286-91. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.02.074. Epub 2007 Mar 2.

Abstract

Leptin binding to its functional receptor stimulates JAK-STAT-signaling pathway, which finally results in activation and nuclear translocation of transcription factors of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family, namely of STAT3. Here we report for the first time that systemic treatment with leptin (5 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection) also increased the number of nuclear STAT5 signals in the hypothalamus. In particular, the entire arcuate nucleus (ARC), the ventral premammilary nucleus (PMV), and the supraoptic nucleus (SO) showed an enhanced nuclear STAT5 translocation in response to leptin when compared to saline, 120 min after the respective injection. Co-localization studies revealed that a high percentage of those STAT5-responsive cells proved to be neurons. In addition, some astrocytes within the ARC showed nuclear STAT5 signals. The functional relevance of leptin-induced nuclear STAT5 activation in hypothalamic cells still has to be determined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / physiology
  • Animals
  • Appetite Regulation / drug effects
  • Appetite Regulation / physiology
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / metabolism
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Hypothalamus / anatomy & histology
  • Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Leptin / metabolism*
  • Leptin / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / drug effects
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Supraoptic Nucleus / drug effects
  • Supraoptic Nucleus / metabolism

Substances

  • Leptin
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor