Resources
Authors & Affiliations
Kenshiro Shikano, Ikuko Morisaki, Ryoko Higa, Hitoshi Teranishi, Takaki Yahiro, Mitsuhiro Yoshimura, Toshikatsu Hanada, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Yoichi Ueta, Reiko Hanada
Abstract
Hypothalamus is the center of energy metabolism and feeding behavior, and several hypothalamic neurotransmitters regulate energy homeostasis. Neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL) and neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM), were discovered as a novel neuropeptide from hypothalamus in 2014, induced obese phenotype owing to increased feeding behavior and lipogenesis in rats. However, the mechanisms of energy metabolism mediated by NPGL/NPGM system has not been totally elucidated. To investigate the loss of function of NPGL/NPGM system in mammals, we have established NPGL and NPGM double knockout mice (NPGL/NPGM dKO). NPGL/NPGM dKO showed a lean phenotype under a high fat diet condition because of decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure compared with wild type mice (WT). Furthermore, NPGL/NPGM dKO showed not only decreased fat deposition but also augmented thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in brown adipose tissue. Sympathetic nervous activity in BAT were elevated in NPGL/NPGM dKO to regulate BAT thermogenesis. Finally, we analyzed expression levels of feeding regulators in hypothalamus. The expression levels of anorexigenic factors were upregulated in NPGL/NPGM dKO. These results imply that endogenous NPGL/NPGM system has important roles in central regulation of energy metabolism.