Rutecarpine ameliorates bodyweight gain through the inhibition of orexigenic neuropeptides NPY and AgRP in mice.

Abstract

Orexigenic neuropeptides NPY and AgRP play major roles in feeding and are closely related to obesity and diabetic metabolic syndrome. This study explored the inhibitory effect of rutecarpine on feeding and obesity in high-fat-diet-induced (C57BL/6) and leptin-deficient (ob/ob) obese mice. Both mice strains developed obesity, but the obesity was inhibited by the reduced food intake resulting from rutecarpine treatment (0.01%, p<0.01). Blood cholesterol, non-fasting glucose, insulin, and leptin levels were reduced, compared with the control group. Rutecarpine inhibited the expression of NPY and AgRP in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus and suppressed the expression of both neuropeptides in N29-4 neuronal cells. These results indicate that rutecarpine ameliorates obesity by inhibiting food intake, which involves inhibited expression of the orexigenic neuropeptides NPY and AgRP.

• Authors: Su-Jin Kim, Sung-Jin Lee, Sanghyun Lee, Sungwook Chae, Man-Deuk Han, Woongchon Mar, Kung-Woo Nam
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 389 Issue 3 Pg. 437-42 (Nov 20 2009) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19732749 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Agouti-Related Protein
• Indole Alkaloids
• Neuropeptide Y
• Quinazolines
• rutecarpine

Topics

• Agouti-Related Protein (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Animals
• Cell Line
• Down-Regulation
• Eating (drug effects)
• Hypothalamus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Indole Alkaloids (pharmacology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Neuropeptide Y (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Obesity (metabolism)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic (drug effects)
• Quinazolines (pharmacology)
• Weight Gain (drug effects)