Impaired hypothalamic cocaine ‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript expression in lateral hypothalamic area and paraventricular nuclei of dehydration‐induced anorexic rats

We examined whether changes in CART expression from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and arcuate nucleus (ARC) could participate in food‐avoidance of DIA rats. DIA and forced‐food restricted (FFR) animals reduced their body weight and food intake. FFR rats had a down‐regulation of their HPT axis (reduced serum TH and TSH content), whereas DIA animals had reduced TH but increased TSH levels. CART mRNA expression in the ARC decreased similarly between experimental groups and diminished in anterior, medial PVN and in LHA of FFR animals, whereas DIA animals showed unchanged levels. This impaired CART mRNA expression in the anterior PVN and LHA could be related to the aberrant feeding behaviour of DIA rats but not to their deregulated HPT axis function.
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research