Correlation between plasma beta-cell tropin concentrations and body weight in obese rhesus monkeys.

Abstract

The fasting plasma concentration of the pituitary peptide beta-cell tropin [beta-CT, adrenocorticotropic hormone-(22-39)] was measured in 17 rhesus monkeys from a colony known to develop spontaneous obesity. The weight of the animals was 9.4-23.9 kg (12-46% body fat). Plasma beta-CT concentrations were 0.03-0.84 nmol/l and were strongly correlated with body weight (P = 0.014, r = 0.584). Plasma beta-CT was also correlated with plasma insulin concentration as a power function (P = 0.011, r = 0.600) and with percent body fat up to 40% (P = 0.003, r = 0.0804). Plasma insulin is also correlated with body weight (P = 0.015, r = 0.578) but does not decline when body fat is in excess of 40%, supporting the hypothesis that beta-CT may be involved in a feed-back control mechanism, perhaps mediated by insulin. Because beta-CT has been shown in rodent studies to be a potent insulin secretagogue and lipogenic agent, it is possible that beta-CT is causally involved in the development of obesity and that there may be central determinants of obesity mediated through pituitary secretion of beta-CT.

• Authors: J L Morton, M Davenport, A Beloff-Chain, N L Bodkin, B C Hansen
• Journal: The American journal of physiology (Am J Physiol) Vol. 262 Issue 6 Pt 1 Pg. E963-7 (Jun 1992) ISSN: 0002-9513 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1319685 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Insulin
• Peptide Fragments
• beta-cell tropin
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (growth & development, physiology, physiopathology)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (blood)
• Aging
• Animals
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Body Weight
• Fasting
• Insulin (blood)
• Macaca mulatta
• Obesity (physiopathology)
• Peptide Fragments (blood)