Central NMU signaling in body weight and energy balance regulation: evidence from NMUR2 deletion and chronic central NMU treatment in mice.

Abstract

To investigate the role of the central neuromedin U (NMU) signaling system in body weight and energy balance regulation, we examined the effects of long-term intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of NMU in C57Bl/6 mice and in mice lacking the gene encoding NMU receptor 2. In diet-induced obese male and female C57BL/6 mice, icv infusion of NMU (8 microg x day(-1) x mouse(-1)) for 7 days decreased body weight and total energy intake compared with vehicle treatment. However, these parameters were unaffected by NMU treatment in lean male and female C57BL/6 mice fed a standard diet. In addition, female (but not male) NMUR2-null mice had increased body weight and body fat mass when fed a high-fat diet but lacked a clear body weight phenotype when fed a standard diet compared with wild-type littermates. Furthermore, female (but not male) NMUR2-null mice fed a high-fat diet were protected from central NMU-induced body weight loss compared with littermate wild-type mice. Thus, we provide the first evidence that long-term central NMU treatment reduces body weight, food intake, and adiposity and that central NMUR2 signaling is required for these effects in female but not male mice.

• Authors: Emil Egecioglu, Karolina Ploj, Xiufeng Xu, Mikael Bjursell, Nicolas Salomé, Niklas Andersson, Claes Ohlsson, Magdalena Taube, Caroline Hansson, Mohammad Bohlooly-Y, David G A Morgan, Suzanne L Dickson
• Journal: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 297 Issue 3 Pg. E708-16 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1522-1555 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19584200 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Neuropeptides
• Receptors, Neurotransmitter
• neuromedin U receptor
• neuromedin U

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (anatomy & histology, drug effects)
• Animals
• Body Composition (drug effects, genetics)
• Body Weight (drug effects, genetics)
• Central Nervous System (drug effects, metabolism, physiology)
• Energy Intake (drug effects, genetics)
• Energy Metabolism (drug effects, genetics)
• Female
• Gene Deletion
• Injections, Intraventricular
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Neuropeptides (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Receptors, Neurotransmitter (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects, genetics)
• Time Factors