Prostaglandin E2-induced anorexia involves hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ghrelin in chicks

Chang Cao; Tetsuya Tachibana; Elizabeth R Gilbert; Mark A Cline

doi:10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2021.106574

Prostaglandin E2-induced anorexia involves hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ghrelin in chicks

Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2021 Oct:156:106574. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2021.106574. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Authors

Chang Cao¹, Tetsuya Tachibana², Elizabeth R Gilbert¹, Mark A Cline³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
² Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan.
³ Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA. Electronic address: macline2@vt.edu.

PMID: 34102274
DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2021.106574

Abstract

Central administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is associated with potent anorexia in rodents and chicks, although hypothalamic mechanisms are not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to identify hypothalamic nuclei and appetite-related factors that are involved in this anorexigenic effect, using chickens as a model. Intracerebroventricular injection of 2.5, 5, and 10 nmol of PGE2 suppressed food and water intake in broiler chicks in a dose-dependent manner. c-Fos immunoreactivity was increased in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) at 60 min post injection of 5 nmol of PGE2. Under the same treatment condition, hypothalamic expression of melanocortin receptor 3 and ghrelin mRNAs increased, whereas neuropeptide Y receptor sub-type 5 and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) mRNAs decreased in PGE2-treated chicks. In the PVN, chicks injected with PGE2 had more brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ghrelin, and c-Fos mRNA but less corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1), CRFR2, and TrkB mRNA expression. In conclusion, PGE2 injection resulted in decreased food and water intake that likely involves BDNF and ghrelin originating in the PVN. Because the anorexigenic effect is so potent and hypothalamic mechanisms are similar in chickens and rodents, a greater understanding of the role of PGE2 in acute appetite regulation may have implications for treating eating and metabolic disorders in humans.

Keywords: Anorexia; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Chicks; Ghrelin; Hypothalamus; Paraventricular nucleus; Prostaglandin E2.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anorexia*