help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fekete, C.
Right arrow Articles by Lechan, R. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fekete, C.
Right arrow Articles by Lechan, R. M.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Hazardous Substances DB
*LEVOTHYROXINE
*LIOTHYRONINE
Endocrinology Vol. 142, No. 6 2606-2613
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Neuropeptide Y Has a Central Inhibitory Action on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis1

Csaba Fekete, Joseph Kelly, Emese Mihály, Sumit Sarkar, William M. Rand, Gábor Légrádi, Charles H. Emerson and Ronald M. Lechan

Tupper Research Institute and Department of Medicine (C.F., J.K., E.M., S.S., G.L., R.M.L.), Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111; Department of Neurobiology (C.F.), Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary 1083; Department of Community Health (W.M.R.), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111; Department of Medicine (C.H.E.), Division of Endocrinology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655; and Department of Neuroscience (R.M.L.), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Ronald M. Lechan M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Box No. 268, New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. E-mail: rlechan{at}lifespan.org


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Recent evidence suggests that neuropeptide Y (NPY), originating in neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, is an important mediator of the effects of leptin on the central nervous system. As these NPY neurons innervate hypophysiotropic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) that produce the tripeptide, TRH, we raised the possibility that NPY may be responsible for resetting of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis during fasting. To test this hypothesis, the effects of intracerebroventricularly administered NPY on circulating thyroid hormone levels and proTRH messenger RNA in the PVN were studied by RIA and in situ hybridization histochemistry, respectively. NPY administration suppressed circulating levels of thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) and resulted in an inappropriately normal or low TSH. These alterations were associated with a significant suppression of proTRH messenger RNA in the PVN, indicating that NPY infusion had resulted in a state of central hypothyroidism. Similar observations were made in NPY-infused animals pair fed to the vehicle-treated controls. These data are reminiscent of the effect of fasting on the thyroid axis and indicate that NPY may play a major role in the inhibition of HPT axis during fasting.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
THE NEUROENDOCRINE adaptation to fasting involves the 16-kDa protein hormone, leptin, a product of white adipose tissue (1). With fasting, there is a marked suppression of the circulating levels of leptin, providing a potent signal to the hypothalamus that orchestrates a number of adaptive responses including decrease of the metabolic rate and thermogenesis, suppression of the sympathetic nervous system, insulin resistance, inhibition of reproductive function, and feeding behavior (1, 2). Thus, the decreased secretion of leptin is one of the most important peripheral signals that allow brain centers to control energy homeostasis during food deprivation (1, 2).

We have recently demonstrated that leptin has an important central action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis (3). Thus, with fasting, the reduction in circulating thyroid hormone levels and pro-TRH gene expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) can be completely restored to normal, fed levels by the systemic administration of leptin, despite continuation of the fast (3). We have proposed, therefore, that the fall in circulating leptin levels during fasting resets the set point for feedback inhibition of thyroid hormone on the biosynthesis of hypophysiotropic proTRH in the hypothalamic PVN (3). On the basis that pharmacological ablation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus can obliterate the effects of fasting and exogenous leptin administration to fasting animals on the HPT axis (4), we have further hypothesized that the arcuate nucleus mediates the regulatory effects of leptin on the HPT axis and therefore, that the ability of leptin to affect proTRH gene expression in the PVN is indirect (4).

One peptide of arcuate nucleus origin that may mediate the effects of leptin on hypophysiotropic proTRH neurons is the 36 amino acid neuropeptide Y (NPY). NPY-containing axon terminals of arcuate nucleus origin densely innervate TRH neurons in the PVN (5, 6) and establish primarily symmetric contacts that would suggest an inhibitory effect (7). In addition, TRH neurons in the PVN contain type Y1 NPY receptors (8), suggesting a direct action of NPY on these neurons. NPY neurons in the arcuate nucleus contain leptin receptors (9) and fasting markedly increases NPY gene expression in the arcuate nucleus concomitant with increased NPY release in the PVN (10, 11). Therefore, we have raised the possibility that NPY mediates the inhibitory effects of fasting on proTRH neurons in the PVN. To test this hypothesis, we have determined whether the central administration of NPY to fed animals can replicate the response of the HPT axis observed during fasting.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Animals
The experiments were carried out on adult male Sprague Dawley rats (Taconic Farms, Inc., Germantown, NY), weighing 230–260 g. The animals were housed individually in cages under standard environmental conditions (light between 0600–1800 h, temperature 22 ± 1 C, rat chow and water ad libitum). All experimental protocols were reviewed and approved by the Animal Welfare Committee at the New England Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. Two separate experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, the effect of administering 10 µg/day NPY via continuous intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion on the HPT axis was studied and compared with vehicle-infused controls. In the second experiment, potential confounding effects of NPY-induced hyperphagia on the HPT axis was determined by the addition of a third group in which animals infused icv with 10 µg/d NPY were pair fed to the vehicle infused group, and compared with an ad lib fed 10 µg/d NPY-infused group.

Animal preparation for NPY infusion
Rats were implanted with a 22-gauge stainless steel guide cannula (Plastics One Inc., Roanoke, VA) into the lateral cerebral ventricle under stereotaxic control (coordinates from Bregma AP -0.8; Lat 1.2; D-Vent 3.2) through a burr hole in the skull. The cannula was secured to the skull with three stainless steel screws and dental cement and temporarily occluded with a dummy cannula. Bacitracin ointment was applied daily to the interface of the cement and the skin. Animals were weighed daily and any animal showing signs of illness or weight loss was removed from the study and euthanized. One week after icv cannulation, under general anesthesia, an osmotic minipump (Alzet Model 2001, Alza Corp., Palo Alto, CA) was implanted intradermally between the scapulas and connected with PE tubing to a 28 G needle that was permanently inserted into and extended 1 mm below the external guide cannula. In the first experiment, all animals had free access to food and the animals were divided in two groups. The osmotic minipumps delivered either artificial cerebrospinal fluid (a-CSF) (140 mM NaCl, 3.35 mM KCl, 1.15 mM MgCl2, 1.26 mM Ca Cl2, 1.2 mM Na2HPO4, 0.3 mM NaH2PO4, 0.1%BSA, pH7.4) (Group 1, n = 8), or 10 µg/24 h NPY in a-CSF (Group 2, n = 4) for 4 days at a rate of 1 µl/h. In the second experiment, the first and second groups were fed ad libitum. The first group (n = 6) received a-CSF, and the second group (n = 6) received 10 µg/24 h NPY in a-CSF by osmotic minipump as described above for 3 days at a rate of 1 µl/h. The third group (n = 4) was also treated with 10 µg/24 h NPY in a-CSF for 3 days at a rate of 1 µl/h, but pair fed to the control group. The weight of the animals and food intake were monitored daily.

At the completion of the experiment, the animals were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital between 0900–1200 h, blood was taken from inferior vena cava for measurement of plasma T4, T3, TSH, and leptin, and the animals were immediately perfused with fixative as described below. Blood was collected into polypropylene tubes, centrifuged for 15 min at 4000 rpm, and the plasma stored at -80 C until assayed. Brown adipose tissue was carefully dissected from the interscapular area and white fat dissected from the epididymal fat pad and weighed.

Tissue preparation for in situ hybridization histochemistry
Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, the animals were perfused transcardially with 20 ml 0.01 M PBS, pH 7.4, containing 15,000 U/liter heparin sulfate followed by 150 ml 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS. The brains were removed and postfixed by immersion in the same fixative for 2 h at room temperature. Tissue blocks containing the hypothalamus were cryoprotected in 20% sucrose in PBS at 4 C overnight, then frozen on dry ice. Serial 18-µm thick coronal sections through the rostrocaudal extent of the PVN and the arcuate nucleus were cut on a cryostat (Reichert-Jung 2800 Frigocut-E) and adhered to Superfrost/Plus glass slides (Fisher Scientific Co., Pittsburgh, PA) to obtain four sets of slides, each set containing every fourth section through the PVN and the arcuate nucleus. Cannula placement was confirmed by light microscopic examination. The tissue sections were desiccated overnight at 42 C and stored at -80 C until prepared for in situ hybridization histochemistry.

In situ hybridization histochemistry
Every fourth section of the PVN was hybridized with a 1,241-bp single stranded [35S]UTP labeled complementary RNA probe for pro-TRH as previously described (12, 13). Serial sections taken from the arcuate nucleus of the animals from the first experiment were hybridized with a labeled 345-bp single stranded antisense, [35S]UTP RNA probe for AGRP, generously provided by Dr. G. Barsh (Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA) and previously characterized by Wilson et al. (14). The hybridizations were performed under plastic coverslips in a buffer containing 50% formamide, a 2-fold concentration of standard sodium citrate (2 x SSC), 10% dextran sulfate, 0.5% SDS, 250 µg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 6 x 105 cpm of radiolabeled probe for 16 h at 56 C. Slides were dipped into Kodak NTB2 autoradiography emulsion (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY), and the autoradiograms were developed after 2 days (proTRH) or 7 days (AGRP) of exposure at 4 C.

Image analysis
Autoradiograms were visualized under darkfield illumination using a COHU 4910 video camera (COHU, Inc., San Diego, CA). The images were analyzed with a Macintosh G4 computer using Scion Image. Background density points were removed by thresholding the image and integrated density values (density x area) of hybridized neurons in the same region of each side of the PVN (proTRH) or the arcuate nucleus (AGRP) were measured in five consecutive sections for each animal. Nonlinearity of radioactivity in the emulsion was evaluated by comparing density values with a calibration curve created from autoradiograms of known dilutions of the radiolabeled probes immobilized on glass slides in 1.5% gelatin fixed with 4% formaldehyde, and exposed and developed simultaneously with the in situ hybridization autoradiograms.

Hormone measurements
Serum T4, T3, and TSH concentrations were measured by RIA as previously described (15). Materials for the TSH RIA were provided by the NIADDK National Hormone and Pituitary Program (Baltimore, MD) using NIDDK rat TSH RP-2 as the standard. Specific antisera for T4 and T3 were obtained from Ventrex (Portland, ME). The labels, [125I]-T4 and [125I]-T3 for the T4 and T3 assays respectively, were obtained from NEN Life Science Products (Boston, MA). Serum leptin was measured by RIA using a rat leptin kit RL83K from Linco Research, Inc. (St. Charles, MO). The detection limit was 0.22 ng/ml and the ED50 was 3.6 ng/ml. The Cobra 500 program was used for data reduction and calculation of the RIA results.

Statistical analysis
The results are presented as mean ± SEM. Data for experiment one (comparing two groups) were analyzed using independent sample t tests. Data for experiment two (comparing three groups) were analyzed using ANOVA with two linear contrasts to test the two basic hypotheses: the first compared the two treatment groups (NPY and NPY pair fed) and the second compared the pooled treatment groups (NPY) with the control data. Levene’s test was used to check the assumption of equality of variance and this showed that the leptin data needed a log transform before analysis. All data were entered into and analyzed using SPSS, Inc. Version 10.0. P values are presented, a level less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Effect of central NPY administration on food intake, body weight, brown adipose tissue and epididymal fat pad weight and plasma hormone levels
In the first experiment, NPY-treated animals consumed significantly more food than controls during the four days of infusion (Cumulative Food Intake, NPY vs. Control: 108.7 ± 7.35 g vs. 81.85 ± 3.46 g, P < 0.003). Nevertheless, as shown in Table 1Go, body weight and weight gain of the two groups at the end of the experiment did not significantly differ (body weight P = 0.98, Percent Weight Gain P = 0.84). NPY administration, however, resulted in an approximately 270% increase in the weight of interscapular brown adipose tissue (P < 0.013) and a change in the characteristic deep reddish-brown color of this tissue to a light tan or white color. The weight of the epididymal fat pad also increased in the NPY treated animals, and was significantly different from the control group (P = 0.019).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Physiologic parameters in control and NPY-infused animals

 
For the second experiment, as shown in Table 1Go, body weights differed between the NPY ad lib and pair fed groups at the end of the experiment (as expected). However, change in body weight did not differ between the NPY groups (P = 0.30), whereas change in body weight did differ between the NPY groups and the controls (P < 0.001). The weights of brown fat and epididymal fat in animals infused with NPY and pair fed to controls were not significantly different from animals infused with NPY and allowed to eat ad lib (P = 0.30 and 0.11, respectively), whereas the combined NPY groups were significantly different from the weight of brown fat (P < 0.001) and epididymal fat (P = 0.011) in the control animals.

Table 1Go shows the results of plasma thyroid hormone levels, TSH, and leptin determinations in both experiments. Significant reductions in plasma levels of T4 (P < 0.001) and T3 (P = 0.001) were observed in the NPY-infused animals in the first experiment. TSH was not significantly different from controls (P = 0.27) but was considered inappropriately low for the fall in T4 and T3. No significant differences between the T4 (P = 0.60), T3 (P = 0.57) and TSH (P = 0.15) levels were observed between the NPY-infused ad lib group and the NPY-infused pair fed group in the second experiment. In addition, the combined NPY groups in the second experiment were significantly different from the vehicle-infused controls (T4, P = 0.004; T3, P = 0.014; TSH, P = 0.002). Serum leptin levels were markedly increased by NPY treatment. The natural logs of the leptin values showed significant differences from their control values in both experiments (Exp 1, P < 0.001; Exp 2, NPY vs. Control, P < 0.001). However, significant differences were found between the ln leptin levels of the NPY ad lib and NPY pair fed groups (P = 0.016), with the NPY pair fed group having an intermediate value between the NPY ad lib group and Controls.

Effect of NPY administration on proTRH messenger RNA (mRNA) in the PVN
In control animals, neurons containing proTRH mRNA were readily visualized by in situ hybridization histochemistry, symmetrically distributed in the medial and periventricular parvocellular subdivisions of the PVN on either side of the third ventricle (Fig. 1AGo). Following the administration of NPY, a marked decrease in the hybridization signal was apparent (Fig. 1BGo). By image analysis, NPY induced an approximately 55% reduction in the density values of proTRH mRNA in PVN neurons, which was significantly different from controls (P = 0.018) (Fig. 1CGo).



View larger version (54K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Darkfield illumination photomicrographs of proTRH mRNA in the medial parvocellular subdivision of the PVN in control (artificial CSF, aCSF) (A) and NPY-infused (B) animals. Note marked reduction in silver grains over neurons in the PVN in the NPY-infused group. C, Computerized image analysis of proTRH mRNA content in the PVN of control and NPY-infused animals. III, Third ventricle. Original magnification, x100.

 
A similar response to NPY infusion was seen in the second experiment (Fig. 2Go, A and B). The NPY pair fed group also showed a marked reduction in proTRH mRNA that was not perceptibly different from that in the NPY-infused ad lib fed group (Fig. 2CGo). Image analysis revealed an approximately 60% fall in the NPY pair fed group and 53% in the NPY ad lib group (P = 0.67 between these two groups), and a very significant difference comparing the pooled NPY groups to controls (P = 0.002, Fig. 3Go).



View larger version (70K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Lower power darkfield photomicrographs of proTRH mRNA in the hypothalamus of control (A), NPY-infused ad lib fed (B) and NPY-infused pair fed (to controls) (C) rats. Note that both NPY-infused groups have a marked reduction in proTRH mRNA exclusively in the paraventricular nucleus (arrow). LH, Lateral hypothalamus; III, Third ventricle. Original magnification, x50.

 


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. Computerized image analysis of proTRH mRNA content in the PVN of control, NPY-infused ad lib, and NPY-infused pair fed animals. The pooled mean of the NPY-infused group differ significantly (*) from the control group.

 
Effect of NPY administration on AGRP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus
AGRP mRNA was studied only in the first experiment. In control animals, hybridization signal was readily observed, with silver grains accumulating over neurons in the medial part of the arcuate nucleus (Fig. 4AGo). Following the infusion of NPY, there was a reduction in the intensity of hybridization signal over these neurons (Fig. 4BGo), which by image analysis, was significantly reduced (P = 0.017) to approximately 49% of the control animals (Fig. 4CGo).



View larger version (72K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. In situ hybridization autoradiograms showing the presence of AGRP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of control (artificial CSF, aCSF) (A) and NPY-infused (B) rats. A significant reduction in silver grain accumulation is seen in the NPY-infused animals, shown by computerized analysis in (C). Original magnification, x100.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Neuropeptide Y is well recognized to have an important role in the maintenance of energy homeostasis (16, 17). During fasting, NPY neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus are activated when circulating levels of leptin fall (16, 17), resulting in a constellation of responses including increased appetite (16, 17), reduced sympathetic activity and reduced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (18). Fasting also results in suppression of the thyroid axis, presumably as part of the coordinated response to conserve energy (19, 20). In association with a fall in circulating levels of T4 and normal or inappropriately low TSH, TRH mRNA levels in hypophysiotropic neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus are also suppressed (3, 21, 22, 23), indicating the development of central hypothyroidism.

The possibility that NPY could exert an inhibitory effect on the thyroid axis was first suggested by Harfstrand et al. (24). Following a single icv injection of NPY, these investigators showed a significant reduction in serum levels of TSH within 60 min of administration that could also be reproduced in NPY-treated anesthetized animals, indicating that the response was not secondary to increased food and water consumption. Harfstrand et al. (24) proposed that the effect of NPY to reduce serum TSH may be secondary to activation of tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons, because NPY increases dopamine utilization in the median eminence (24) and dopamine may be inhibitory to the release of TRH from the median eminence (25) and TSH from anterior pituitary thyrotropes (26).

The dense NPY-ergic innervation of the PVN, however, raises the possibility that NPY could have direct effects on hypophysiotropic TRH neurons. At least two major sources of the NPY innervation of the PVN have been established, the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (27, 28) and adrenergic/noradrenergic cell groups in the medulla oblongata (29). Studies from our laboratory have identified that the arcuate nucleus is the major source of the NPY innervation, specifically to TRH neurons in the PVN (6). Following ablation of the arcuate nucleus, an approximately 82% reduction in the relative number of NPY terminals contacting TRH perikarya and first order dendrites was observed. However, no statistically significant change in the number of NPY-terminals in close apposition to hypophysiotropic TRH neurons followed lesions of the ascending adrenergic bundle that carries input from the lower brain stem (6). Similar conclusions have been made by other investigators (30). Because the ultrastructural characteristics of the NPY-containing axon terminals that establish synapses with TRH neurons in the PVN are primarily symmetric (6), and neurophysiological studies indicate that symmetric synapses correlate with inhibitory activity (7), we have hypothesized that NPY exerts an inhibitory effect on the thyroid axis via a direct arcuate-paraventricular projection pathway to hypophysiotropic TRH neurons (6).

In the present study, we demonstrate that NPY exerts a profound inhibitory effect on the thyroid axis via effects on hypophysiotropic TRH neurons. The dose of NPY chosen was based on previous studies that demonstrated an orixogenic response when 10 µg of NPY was administered icv (31). Consistent with these observations was a marked increase in food consumption in the NPY-infused animals compared with the vehicle controls in our studies, as well as an increase in weights of brown and white adipose tissue, confirming the efficacy of the infused NPY dose. The increased weight of brown adipose tissue was most likely due to the accumulation of lipids, considering the light color of the brown adipose tissue in the NPY treated animals, as well as the effects of NPY to decrease sympathetic activity and thermogenesis (18).

Associated with the anticipated effects of NPY infusion on food consumption and fat accumulation, there was a significant fall in T4 and T3 levels in the NPY infused animals in both experiments. Plasma TSH was either significantly low or inappropriately normal for the T4 and T3 levels in these animals, suggesting decreased levels of hypophysiotropic TRH (32). Indeed, TRH mRNA in the PVN was significantly reduced compared with vehicle-infused controls in both experiments, falling to more than 50% of control values. The ability of NPY to suppress TRH gene expression in the PVN was unrelated to its effects on food consumption as TRH mRNA in the PVN of the pair fed NPY-infused group was similarly reduced, and essentially no different than the NPY-infused ad lib fed group. These data are also consistent with recent findings, showing that NPY can reduce TRH biosynthesis in cultures of rat fetal hypothalamus (33). This marked inhibition of TRH gene expression in PVN together with the fall in circulating thyroid hormone levels, resembles the effect of fasting on the thyroid axis due to suppression of circulating leptin levels (3).

The increase in leptin levels in NPY infused animals is consistent with other reports (34) and with the increased fat accumulation in these animals. We have previously demonstrated, however, that in fasting animals, exogenous leptin administration restores the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis to normal (3). It would seem paradoxical in this study, therefore, that despite high circulating levels of leptin, the thyroid axis was suppressed. Several possibilities should be considered. First, the NPY-infused animals may have become leptin resistant. Leptin resistance has been associated with obesity either due to reduced transport of leptin across the blood-brain-barrier, down-regulation of leptin receptors in the brain, or inhibition of downstream signaling (35, 36, 37). However, in most studies, more than three weeks of overfeeding or 2 weeks of chronic high dose leptin administration is required before leptin resistance takes place (38). In our study, the duration of NPY infusion with the resultant overfeeding was limited to 3–4 days. In addition, AGRP mRNA in arcuate nucleus neurons was reduced in the NPY infused animals, whereas in the leptin resistant mouse (db/db) or rat (fa/fa), AGRP mRNA is markedly increased (39, 40), making leptin resistance less likely in our study. The suppression of AGRP mRNA in NPY-infused animals may be due to the effect of hyperphagia-induced hyperleptinemia, consistent with the inhibitory role of leptin on AGRP gene expression (40), or a direct effect of NPY, itself.

An alternative explanation is that the neuromodulatory effects of leptin on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis were completely overcome by the central administration of NPY. We have proposed that leptin exerts its effects on hypophysiotropic TRH neurons primarily via the arcuate nucleus, as the arcuate nucleus contains neurons that possess the long (biologically active) form of the leptin receptor (41) and a proportion of arcuate neurons project directly to TRH-producing neurons in the PVN (6, 42, 43). In addition, pharmacological ablation of the arcuate nucleus abolishes fasting-induced inhibition of the thyroid axis and the ability of leptin to regulate TRH gene expression in paraventricular neurons (4). The increased release of NPY from axon terminals in the PVN during fasting when leptin levels are suppressed (11), therefore, may be responsible for the inhibition of TRH gene expression in hypophysiotropic neurons by direct effects on these neurons and/or by interaction with the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, which coexists with NPY in approximately 30% of arcuate nucleus neurons (44, 45). Conversely, the rise in circulating leptin levels would inhibit both the production of NPY in the arcuate nucleus and its release in the PVN, resulting in disinhibition of TRH gene expression. By administering NPY into the CSF, a unique situation is created whereby NPY can bypass any regulatory effects of leptin on the arcuate nucleus as a result of direct access to TRH neurons in the PVN.

The possibility that leptin might have a direct effect on TRH neurons in the PVN has been suggested by Nillni et al. (33) on the basis that a small population (8–13%) of TRH neurons contain leptin receptors and that leptin can dose dependently stimulate proTRH biosynthesis. These studies, however, were performed in cultures of hypothalamic neurons that contain a mixed population of TRH neurons originating in the lateral hypothalamus, dorsomedial nucleus, and perifornical group, in addition to the PVN. Furthermore, whereas leptin can induce the TRH promoter in CV-1 cells cotransfected with the leptin receptor, STAT3, and the human TRH promoter (33), leptin receptors have not yet been demonstrated in hypophysiotropic TRH neurons. In addition, STAT3 is a common intracellular signaling molecule for many cytokines and hormones and is not specific for leptin (46, 47, 48). Finally, because we found that the icv administration of NPY to fed animals inhibits TRH gene expression in PVN neurons, despite high circulating levels of leptin, the effect of leptin on hypophysiotropic TRH, if present, is probably minor. There may be a direct effect of leptin on TRH neurons that do not subserve a hypophysiotropic function, however.

Although the icv administration of NPY was capable of reducing TRH mRNA in the PVN to levels observed in fasting animals, studies by Erickson et al. (49), using the NPY knock-out mouse, have shown that these animals are still capable of suppressing their thyroid axis during fasting (49). These studies would suggest that other mechanisms may also be involved in the regulation of the thyroid axis during fasting and may involve several other peptides of arcuate nucleus origin including AGRP, {alpha}MSH, and CART (43, 50, 51). Kim et al. (50) have demonstrated an inhibitory effect of AGRP on TSH secretion in vivo and on leptin-induced release of TRH from hypothalamic explants. Conversely, studies from our laboratory have shown that both {alpha}-MSH and CART have potent stimulatory effects on TRH gene expression, selectively in the PVN, and can completely restore proTRH mRNA levels to normal in fasting animals (43, 51). Thus, the fasting-induced increase in AGRP and/or decrease in {alpha}MSH and CART (40, 52), may contribute to inhibition of the thyroid axis. In situ hybridization studies for AGRP, POMC, and CART mRNA have not revealed compensatory changes in the NPY-KO mice (53). However, target neurons may have altered sensitivity for AGRP, as NPY-KO animals respond to AGRP administration with a significantly higher food intake than wild-type animals (53).

In summary, we conclude that NPY can exert a potent central effect to inhibit TRH gene expression in the PVN. We propose, therefore, that during fasting, activation of NPY-producing neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is a major component of the regulatory mechanism that causes a decline in proTRH mRNA in the PVN and in circulating thyroid hormone levels. Because inhibitory effects of icv NPY on the HPT axis occur despite elevated serum leptin concentrations, it is likely that leptin reverses fasting-related declines in the HPT axis by altering NPY expression in the arcuate nucleus and not by direct effects on the PVN.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by Grants NIHDK-37021 and DA-10732. Back

Received December 27, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Ahima RS, Prabakaran D, Mantzoros C, Qu D, Lowell B, Maratos-Flier E, Flier JS 1996 Role of leptin in the neuroendocrine response to fasting. Nature 382:250–252[CrossRef][Medline]
  2. Flier JS 1998 What’s in a name? In search of leptin’s physiologic role. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:1407–1413[Free Full Text]
  3. Legradi G, Emerson CH, Ahima RS, Flier JS, Lechan RM 1997 Leptin prevents fasting-induced suppression of prothyrotropin-releasing hormone messenger ribonucleic acid in neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Endocrinology 138:2569–2576[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Legradi G, Emerson CH, Ahima RS, Rand WM, Flier JS, Lechan RM 1998 Arcuate nucleus ablation prevents fasting-induced suppression of ProTRH mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Neuroendocrinology 68:89–97[CrossRef][Medline]
  5. Toni R, Jackson IM, Lechan RM 1990 Neuropeptide-Y-immunoreactive innervation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone-synthesizing neurons in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Endocrinology 126:2444–2453[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Legradi G, Lechan RM 1998 The arcuate nucleus is the major source for neuropeptide Y-innervation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Endocrinology 139:3262–3270[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Peters A, Palay SL, Webster HD 1991 The Fine Structure of the Nervous System. Neurons and Their Supporting Cells. Oxford University Press, Oxford
  8. Broberger C, Visser TJ, Kuhar MJ, Hokfelt T 1999 Neuropeptide Y innervation and neuropeptide-Y-Y1-receptor-expressing neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of the mouse. Neuroendocrinology 70:295–305[CrossRef][Medline]
  9. Hakansson ML, Hulting AL, Meister B 1996 Expression of leptin receptor mRNA in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus—relationship with NPY neurones. Neuroreport 7:3087–3092[Medline]
  10. Brady LS, Smith MA, Gold PW, Herkenham M 1990 Altered expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide mRNAs in food-restricted and food-deprived rats. Neuroendocrinology 52:441–447[Medline]
  11. Beck B, Jhanwar-Uniyal M, Burlet A, Chapleur-Chateau M, Leibowitz SF, Burlet C 1990 Rapid and localized alterations of neuropeptide Y in discrete hypothalamic nuclei with feeding status. Brain Res 528:245–249[CrossRef][Medline]
  12. Dyess EM, Segerson TP, Liposits Z, Paull WK, Kaplan MM, Wu P, Jackson IM, Lechan RM 1988 Triiodothyronine exerts direct cell-specific regulation of thyrotropin- releasing hormone gene expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Endocrinology 123:2291–2297[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Kakucska I, Rand W, Lechan RM 1992 Thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is dependent upon feedback regulation by both triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Endocrinology 130:2845–2850[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Wilson BD, Bagnol D, Kaelin CB, Ollmann MM, Gantz I, Watson SJ, Barsh GS 1999 Physiological and anatomical circuitry between agouti-related protein and leptin signaling. Endocrinology 140:2387–2397[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Castro MI, Alex S, Young RA, Braverman LE, Emerson CH 1986 Total and free serum thyroid hormone concentrations in fetal and adult pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs. Endocrinology 118:533–537[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Schwartz MW, Woods SC, Porte Jr D, Seeley RJ, Baskin DG 2000 Central nervous system control of food intake. Nature 404:661–671[Medline]
  17. Kalra SP, Dube MG, Pu S, Xu B, Horvath TL, Kalra PS 1999 Interacting appetite-regulating pathways in the hypothalamic regulation of body weight. Endocr Rev 20:68–100[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  18. Egawa M, Yoshimatsu H, Bray GA 1991 Neuropeptide Y suppresses sympathetic activity to interscapular brown adipose tissue in rats. Am J Physiol 260:R328–R334
  19. Connors JM, DeVito WJ, Hedge GA 1985 Effects of food deprivation on the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis of the rat. Endocrinology 117:900–906[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  20. Hugues JN, Epelbaum J, Voirol MJ, Modigliani E, Sebaoun J, Enjalbert A 1988 Influence of starvation on hormonal control of hypophyseal secretion in rats. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 119:195–202[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  21. Blake NG, Eckland DJ, Foster OJ, Lightman SL 1991 Inhibition of hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone messenger ribonucleic acid during food deprivation. Endocrinology 129:2714–2718[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Rondeel JM, Heide R, de Greef WJ, van Toor H, van Haasteren GA, Klootwijk W, Visser TJ 1992 Effect of starvation and subsequent refeeding on thyroid function and release of hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Neuroendocrinology 56:348–353[Medline]
  23. van Haasteren GAC, Linkels E, Klootwijk W, van Toor H, Rondeel JMM, Themmen AP, de Jong FH, Valentijn K, Vaudry H, Bauer K, Visser TJ, de Greef WJ 1995 Starvation-induced changes in the hypothalamic content of prothyrotrophin-releasing hormone (proTRH) mRNA and the hypothalamic release of proTRH-derived peptides: role of the adrenal gland. J Endocrinol 145:143–153[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Harfstrand A, Eneroth P, Agnati L, Fuxe K 1987 Further studies on the effects of central administration of neuropeptide Y on neuroendocrine function in the male rat: relationship to hypothalamic catecholamines. Regul Pept 17:167–179[CrossRef][Medline]
  25. Andersson K, Eneroth P 1987 Thyroidectomy and central catecholamine neurons of the male rat. Evidence for the existence of an inhibitory dopaminergic mechanism in the external layer of the median eminence and for a facilitatory noradrenergic mechanism in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus regulating TSH secretion. Neuroendocrinology 45:14–27[Medline]
  26. Krulich L 1982 Neurotransmitter control of thyrotropin secretion. Neuroendocrinology 35:139–147[Medline]
  27. Bai FL, Yamano M, Shiotani Y, Emson PC, Smith AD, Powell JF, Tohyama M 1985 An arcuato-paraventricular and -dorsomedial hypothalamic neuropeptide Y-containing system which lacks noradrenaline in the rat. Brain Res 331:172–175[CrossRef][Medline]
  28. Kerkerian L, Pelletier G 1986 Effects of monosodium L-glutamate administration on neuropeptide Y-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus. Brain Res 369:388–390[CrossRef][Medline]
  29. Sawchenko PE, Swanson LW, Grzanna R, Howe PR, Bloom SR, Polak JM 1985 Colocalization of neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in brainstem catecholaminergic neurons that project to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. J Comp Neurol 241:138–153[CrossRef][Medline]
  30. Diano S, Naftolin F, Goglia F, Horvath TL 1998 Segregation of the intra- and extrahypothalamic neuropeptide Y and catecholaminergic inputs on paraventricular neurons, including those producing thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Regul Pept 75–76:117–126
  31. Wang Q, Bing C, Al-Barazanji K, Mossakowaska DE, Wang XM, McBay DL, Neville WA, Taddayon M, Pickavance L, Dryden S, Thomas ME, McHale MT, Gloyer IS, Wilson S, Buckingham R, Arch JR, Trayhurn P, Williams G 1997 Interactions between leptin and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y neurons in the control of food intake and energy homeostasis in the rat. Diabetes 46:335–341[Abstract]
  32. Lechan RM 1993 Update on thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Thyroid Today 16:1–12
  33. Nillni EA, Vaslet C, Harris M, Hollenberg A, Bjorbak C, Flier JS 2000 Leptin regulates prothyrotropin-releasing hormone biosynthesis. Evidence for direct and indirect pathways. J Biol Chem 275:36124–36133[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  34. McMinn JE, Seeley RJ, Wilkinson CW, Havel PJ, Woods SC, Schwartz MW 1998 NPY-induced overfeeding suppresses hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression: potential roles of plasma insulin and leptin. Regul Pept 75–76:425–431
  35. Martin RL, Perez E, He YJ, Dawson Jr R, Millard WJ 2000 Leptin resistance is associated with hypothalamic leptin receptor mRNA and protein downregulation. Metabolism 49:1479–1484[CrossRef][Medline]
  36. Wang Z, Zhou YT, Kakuma T, Lee Y, Kalra SP, Kalra PS, Pan W, Unger RH 2000 Leptin resistance of adipocytes in obesity: role of suppressors of cytokine signaling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 277:20–26[CrossRef][Medline]
  37. Kastin AJ, Pan W 2000 Dynamic regulation of leptin entry into brain by the blood-brain barrier. Regul Pept 92:37–43[CrossRef][Medline]
  38. El-Haschimi K, Pierroz DD, Hileman SM, Bjorbaek C, Flier JS 2000 Two defects contribute to hypothalamic leptin resistance in mice with diet-induced obesity. J Clin Invest 105:1827–1832[Medline]
  39. Korner J, Wardlaw SL, Liu SM, Conwell IM, Leibel RL, Chua Jr SC 2000 Effects of leptin receptor mutation on Agrp gene expression in fed and fasted lean and obese (LA/N-faf) rats. Endocrinology 141:2465–2471[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  40. Mizuno TM, Mobbs CV 1999 Hypothalamic agouti-related protein messenger ribonucleic acid is inhibited by leptin and stimulated by fasting. Endocrinology 140:814–817[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  41. Baskin DG, Schwartz MW, Seeley RJ, Woods SC, Porte Jr D, Breininger JF, Jonak Z, Schaefer J, Krouse M, Burghardt C, Campfield LA, Burn P, Kochan JP 1999 Leptin receptor long-form splice-variant protein expression in neuron cell bodies of the brain and co-localization with neuropeptide Y mRNA in the arcuate nucleus. J Histochem Cytochem 47:353–362[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  42. Diano S, Naftolin F, Goglia F, Csernus V, Horvath TL 1998 Monosynaptic pathway between the arcuate nucleus expressing glial type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase mRNA and the median eminence-projective TRH cells of the rat paraventricular nucleus. J Neuroendocrinol 10:731–742[CrossRef][Medline]
  43. Fekete C, Legradi G, Mihaly E, Huang QH, Tatro JB, Rand WM, Emerson CH, Lechan RM 2000 alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone is contained in nerve terminals innervating thyrotropin-releasing hormone-synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and prevents fasting-induced suppression of prothyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression. J Neurosci 20:1550–1558[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Horvath TL, Bechmann I, Naftolin F, Kalra SP, Leranth C 1997 Heterogeneity in the neuropeptide Y-containing neurons of the rat arcuate nucleus: GABAergic and non-GABAergic subpopulations. Brain Res 756:283–286[CrossRef][Medline]
  45. Pu S, Jain MR, Horvath TL, Diano S, Kalra PS, Kalra SP 1999 Interactions between neuropeptide Y and {gamma}-aminobutyric acid in stimulation of feeding: a morphological and pharmacological analysis. Endocrinology 140:933–940[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  46. O’Farrell A-M, Liu Y, Moore KW, Mui AL-F 1998 IL-10 inhibits macrophage activation and proliferation by distinct signaling mechanisms: evidence for Stat3-dependent and -independent pathways. EMBO J 17:1006–1018[CrossRef][Medline]
  47. Horn F, Henze C, Heidrich K 2000 Interleukin-6 signal transduction and lymphocyte function. Immunobiology 202:151–167[Medline]
  48. Thomas MJ 1998 The molecular basis of growth hormone action. Growth Horm IGF Res 8:3–11[CrossRef][Medline]
  49. Erickson JC, Ahima RS, Hollopeter G, Flier JS, Palmiter RD 1997 Endocrine function of neuropeptide Y knockout mice. Regul Pept 70:199–202[CrossRef][Medline]
  50. Kim MS, Small CJ, Stanley SA, Morgan DG, Seal LJ, Kong WM, Edwards CM, Abusnana S, Sunter D, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR 2000 The central melanocortin system affects the hypothalamo-pituitary thyroid axis and may mediate the effect of leptin. J Clin Invest 105:1005–1011[Medline]
  51. Fekete C, Mihály M, Luo LG, Kelly J, Clausen JT, Mao Q, Rand WM, Moss LG, Kuhar M, Emerson CH, Jackson IMD, Lechan RM2000 Association of CART-immunoreactive elements with thyrotropin-releasing hormone-synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and its role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis during fasting. J Neurosci 20:9224–9234
  52. Ahima RS, Kelly J, Elmquist JK, Flier JS 1999 Distinct physiologic and neuronal responses to decreased leptin and mild hyperleptinemia. Endocrinology 140:4923–4931[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  53. Marsh DJ, Miura GI, Yagaloff KA, Schwartz MW, Barsh GS, Palmiter RD 1999 Effects of neuropeptide Y deficiency on hypothalamic agouti-related protein expression and responsiveness to melanocortin analogues. Brain Res 848:66–77[CrossRef][Medline]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
M. I. Chiamolera and F. E. Wondisford
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and the Thyroid Hormone Feedback Mechanism
Endocrinology, March 1, 2009; 150(3): 1091 - 1096.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. Dark and K. M. Pelz
NPY Y1 receptor antagonist prevents NPY-induced torporlike hypothermia in cold-acclimated Siberian hamsters
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2008; 294(1): R236 - R245.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
T. Fuzesi, G. Wittmann, Z. Liposits, R. M. Lechan, and C. Fekete
Contribution of Noradrenergic and Adrenergic Cell Groups of the Brainstem and Agouti-Related Protein-Synthesizing Neurons of the Arcuate Nucleus to Neuropeptide-Y Innervation of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons in Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus of the Rat
Endocrinology, November 1, 2007; 148(11): 5442 - 5450.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
J. Menyhert, G. Wittmann, R. M. Lechan, E. Keller, Z. Liposits, and C. Fekete
Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) Is Colocalized with the Orexigenic Neuropeptide Y and Agouti-Related Protein and Absent from the Anorexigenic {alpha}-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Neurons in the Infundibular Nucleus of the Human Hypothalamus
Endocrinology, September 1, 2007; 148(9): 4276 - 4281.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J EndocrinolHome page
D C Ferguson, Z Caffall, and M Hoenig
Obesity increases free thyroxine proportionally to nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in adult neutered female cats
J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2007; 194(2): 267 - 273.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
N. Kakui and K. Kitamura
Direct Evidence that Stimulation of Neuropeptide Y Y5 Receptor Activates Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Conscious Rats via both Corticotropin-Releasing Factor- and Arginine Vasopressin-Dependent Pathway
Endocrinology, June 1, 2007; 148(6): 2854 - 2862.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. S. Landa, S. I. Garcia, M. L. Schuman, A. Burgueno, A. L. Alvarez, F. E. Saravia, C. Gemma, and C. J. Pirola
Knocking down the diencephalic thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor gene normalizes obesity-induced hypertension in the rat
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2007; 292(5): E1388 - E1394.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J EndocrinolHome page
K J Oliveira, G S M Paula, R H Costa-e-Sousa, L L Souza, D C Moraes, F H Curty, and C C Pazos-Moura
Peptide YY (PYY)3-36 modulates thyrotropin secretion in rats.
J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 191(2): 459 - 463.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
M. A. Christoffolete, R. Ribeiro, P. Singru, C. Fekete, W. S. da Silva, D. F. Gordon, S. A. Huang, A. Crescenzi, J. W. Harney, E. C. Ridgway, et al.
Atypical Expression of Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase in Thyrotrophs Explains the Thyroxine-Mediated Pituitary Thyrotropin Feedback Mechanism
Endocrinology, April 1, 2006; 147(4): 1735 - 1743.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Fekete, P. S. Singru, E. Sanchez, S. Sarkar, M. A. Christoffolete, R. S. Riberio, W. M. Rand, C. H. Emerson, A. C. Bianco, and R. M. Lechan
Differential Effects of Central Leptin, Insulin, or Glucose Administration during Fasting on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis and Feeding-Related Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus
Endocrinology, January 1, 2006; 147(1): 520 - 529.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. W. Kok, F. Roelfsema, S. Overeem, G. J. Lammers, M. Frolich, A. E. Meinders, and H. Pijl
Altered setting of the pituitary-thyroid ensemble in hypocretin-deficient narcoleptic men
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2005; 288(5): E892 - E899.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Fekete, P. S. Singru, S. Sarkar, W. M. Rand, and R. M. Lechan
Ascending Brainstem Pathways Are Not Involved in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Suppression of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene Expression in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus
Endocrinology, March 1, 2005; 146(3): 1357 - 1363.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. M. Escobar, S. J. Krajewski, T. Sandoval-Guzman, M. L. Voytko, and N. E. Rance
Neuropeptide Y Gene Expression Is Increased in the Hypothalamus of Older Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2004; 89(5): 2338 - 2343.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
F. Guo, K. Bakal, Y. Minokoshi, and A. N. Hollenberg
Leptin Signaling Targets the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene Promoter in Vivo
Endocrinology, May 1, 2004; 145(5): 2221 - 2227.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Fekete, B. Gereben, M. Doleschall, J. W. Harney, J. M. Dora, A. C. Bianco, S. Sarkar, Z. Liposits, W. Rand, C. Emerson, et al.
Lipopolysaccharide Induces Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase in the Mediobasal Hypothalamus: Implications for the Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome
Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1649 - 1655.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
S. Raptis, C. Fekete, S. Sarkar, W. M. Rand, C. H. Emerson, G. M. Nagy, and R. M. Lechan
Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Co-Contained in Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) Neurons of the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Modulates TRH-Induced Prolactin Secretion
Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1695 - 1699.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Cell. Biol.Home page
A. Sainsbury, P. A. Baldock, C. Schwarzer, N. Ueno, R. F. Enriquez, M. Couzens, A. Inui, H. Herzog, and E. M. Gardiner
Synergistic Effects of Y2 and Y4 Receptors on Adiposity and Bone Mass Revealed in Double Knockout Mice
Mol. Cell. Biol., August 1, 2003; 23(15): 5225 - 5233.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Kallio, U. Pesonen, U. Jaakkola, M. K. Karvonen, H. Helenius, and M. Koulu
Changes in Diurnal Sympathoadrenal Balance and Pituitary Hormone Secretion in Subjects with Leu7Pro Polymorphism in the Prepro-Neuropeptide Y
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2003; 88(7): 3278 - 3283.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
S. Sarkar and R. M. Lechan
Central Administration of Neuropeptide Y Reduces {alpha}-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone-Induced Cyclic Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) Phosphorylation in Pro-Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons and Increases CREB Phosphorylation in Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus
Endocrinology, January 1, 2003; 144(1): 281 - 291.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Fekete, S. Sarkar, W. M. Rand, J. W. Harney, C. H. Emerson, A. C. Bianco, A. Beck-Sickinger, and R. M. Lechan
Neuropeptide Y1 and Y5 Receptors Mediate the Effects of Neuropeptide Y on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis
Endocrinology, December 1, 2002; 143(12): 4513 - 4519.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DiabetesHome page
A. Sainsbury, C. Schwarzer, M. Couzens, and H. Herzog
Y2 Receptor Deletion Attenuates the Type 2 Diabetic Syndrome of ob/ob Mice
Diabetes, December 1, 2002; 51(12): 3420 - 3427.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Fekete, S. Sarkar, W. M. Rand, J. W. Harney, C. H. Emerson, A. C. Bianco, and R. M. Lechan
Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Has a Central Inhibitory Action on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis; Comparisons between the Effect of AGRP and Neuropeptide Y on Energy Homeostasis and the HPT Axis
Endocrinology, October 1, 2002; 143(10): 3846 - 3853.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
N. Pronchuk, A. G. Beck-Sickinger, and W. F. Colmers
Multiple NPY Receptors Inhibit GABAA Synaptic Responses of Rat Medial Parvocellular Effector Neurons in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus
Endocrinology, February 1, 2002; 143(2): 535 - 543.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DiabetesHome page
K. Baran, E. Preston, D. Wilks, G. J. Cooney, E. W. Kraegen, and A. Sainsbury
Chronic Central Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonism and Central Neuropeptide-Y Infusion in Rats Produce Increased Adiposity by Divergent Pathways
Diabetes, January 1, 2002; 51(1): 152 - 158.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fekete, C.
Right arrow Articles by Lechan, R. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fekete, C.
Right arrow Articles by Lechan, R. M.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Hazardous Substances DB
*LEVOTHYROXINE
*LIOTHYRONINE


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals