Agouti-related peptide and melanocortin-4 receptor mRNAs expressions in arcuate nucleus during the pregnancy and lactation of rats

作者：Asadi Yousefabad Seyedeh Leili; Sarvestani Fatemeh Sabet; Tamadon Amin^*; Shirazi Mohammad R Jafarzadeh; Ahmadloo Somayeh; Moghadam Ali; Niazi Ali; Moghiminasr Reza

来源：Veterinarski Arhiv, 2015, 85(6): 689-700.

• agouti-related peptide
• melanocortin-4 receptor
• arcuate nucleus
• pregnancy
• lactation
• rat

Pregnancy is associated with a range of physiological adjustments to adapt the body to the demands of the growth of the fetus and subsequent lactation. It has been observed that agouti-related peptide (AGRP) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in energy homeostasis. A randomized controlled experimental study was planned to investigate the expression of AGRP and MC4R mRNAs in the stages of pregnancy and lactation in rat arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. Thirty-two adult female rats were randomly divided into six groups. Pregnant rats were assigned into three groups (n = 6) of 7, 14, and 21 days of pregnancy. Two more groups were also assigned of non-suckling rats (n = 5), immediately separated from their pups after parturition, and suckling rats (n = 5), allowed to suckle five pups until day 8 (increasing milk). The sixth group consisted of four ovariectomized rats, which were assigned two weeks after surgery and served as control. Using real-time PCR, the relative expressions (compared to controls) of MC4R and AGRP mRNAs in ARC were calculated in the pregnant, suckling and non-suckling rats. Expression of AGRP mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was higher than that observed in suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). Expression of MC4R mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was lower than that observed in suckling rats, and was higher on day 7 than that observed in both suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). In conclusion, expression of AGRP in pregnancy and MC4R in lactation in ARC of rats controls energy homeostasis.

• 出版日期2015