Glucose reverses fasting-induced activation in the arcuate nucleus of mice

Neuroreport. 2008 Jan 8;19(1):105-9. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e3282f380a2.

Abstract

The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is an important target for metabolic and hormonal signals controlling food intake. As demonstrated by c-Fos studies, arcuate neurons are activated in food-deprived mice, whereas refeeding reverses the fasting-induced activation. To evaluate whether an increase in blood glucose has an inhibitory effect on these neurons, we analyzed the c-Fos response to an intraperitoneal glucose injection in fasted mice. This treatment increased blood glucose levels twofold and reduced 2-h food intake. Similar to refeeding, it also reversed the fasting-induced activation in the arcuate nucleus. Therefore, an increase in blood glucose might be an important feeding-related signal acting via the arcuate nucleus to oppose orexigenic stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / drug effects*
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Blood Glucose / physiology
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Eating / physiology
  • Fasting / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Sweetening Agents / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Glucose