A Novel Regulator of Thirst Behavior: Phoenixin.

A Novel Regulator of Thirst Behavior: Phoenixin. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2020 Apr 15;: Authors: Haddock CJ, Almeida-Pereira G, Stein LM, Yosten GLC, Samson WK Abstract There are examples of physiologic conditions under which thirst is inappropriately exaggerated, and the mechanisms for these paradoxical ingestive behaviors remain unknown. We are interested in thirst mechanisms across the female life cycle and have identified a novel mechanism through which ingestive behavior may be activated. We discovered a previously unrecognized, endogenous hypothalamic peptide, phoenixin (PNX, 21), identified physiologically relevant actions of the peptide in brain and pituitary gland to control reproductive hormone secretion in female rodents (17, 21) and in the process identified the previously orphaned G protein-coupled receptor, Gpr173 (17) to be a potential receptor for the peptide. Labeled PNX binding distribution in brain parallels areas known to be important in ingestive behaviors as well areas where gonadal steroids feedback to control estrous cyclicity (17). We have demonstrated up regulation of Gpr173 during puberty, fluctuations across the estrous cycle and, importantly, up regulation during the last third of gestation. It is during this hypervolemic hyponatremic state that both vasopressin secretion and thirst are inappropriately elevated in humans. Here we show that central administration of phoenixin stimulated wate...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Source Type: research