Leptin regulates striatal regions and human eating behavior

Studies of the fat-derived hormone leptin have provided key insights into the molecular and neural components of feeding behavior and body weight regulation. An important challenge lies in understanding how the rewarding properties of food interact with, and can override, physiological satiety signals and promote overeating. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain responses in two human patients with congenital leptin deficiency who were shown images of food before and after 7 days of leptin replacement therapy. Leptin was found to modulate neural activation in key striatal regions, suggesting that the hormone acts on neural circuits governing food intake to diminish the perception of food reward while enhancing the response to satiety signals generated during food consumption.     

Rapid rewiring of arcuate nucleus feeding circuits by leptin

The fat-derived hormone leptin regulates energy balance in part by modulating the activity of neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. To study the intrinsic activity of these neurons and their responses to leptin, we generated mice that express distinct green fluorescent proteins in these two neuronal types. Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice differed from wild-type mice in the numbers of excitatory and inhibitory synapses and postsynaptic currents onto neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin neurons. When leptin was delivered systemically to ob/ob mice, the synaptic density rapidly normalized, an effect detectable within 6 hours, several hours before leptin's effect on food intake. These data suggest that leptin-mediated plasticity in the ob/ob hypothalamus may underlie some of the hormone's behavioral effects.     

Slowing of heart rate after septal self-stimulation in rats

Heart rate, recorded continuously from rats trained to press a bar for intracranial electrical stimulation of their septal areas, fell consistently after brain stimulation. Interpretation of the rewarding effect of septal stimulation had previously been limited by the absence of any data on the autonomic effects of the stimulation. The results of this study suggest that the rewarding effect may possibly be produced by a parasympathetic (quieting) reaction of the autonomic nervous system to septal stimulation.     

Trophic action of leptin on hypothalamic neurons that regulate feeding

In adult mammals, the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin acts on the brain to reduce food intake by regulating the activity of neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH). Here, we report that neural projection pathways from the ARH are permanently disrupted in leptin-deficient (Lepob/Lepob) mice and leptin treatment in adulthood does not reverse these neuroanatomical defects. However, treatment of Lepob/Lepob neonates with exogenous leptin rescues the development of ARH projections, and leptin promotes neurite outgrowth from ARH neurons in vitro. These results suggest that leptin plays a neurotrophic role during the development of the hypothalamus and that this activity is restricted to a neonatal critical period that precedes leptin's acute regulation of food intake in adults.     

Hypothalamic mTOR signaling regulates food intake

The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) protein is a serine-threonine kinase that regulates cell-cycle progression and growth by sensing changes in energy status. We demonstrated that mTOR signaling plays a role in the brain mechanisms that respond to nutrient availability, regulating energy balance. In the rat, mTOR signaling is controlled by energy status in specific regions of the hypothalamus and colocalizes with neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin neurons in the arcuate nucleus. Central administration of leucine increases hypothalamic mTOR signaling and decreases food intake and body weight. The hormone leptin increases hypothalamic mTOR activity, and the inhibition of mTOR signaling blunts leptin's anorectic effect. Thus, mTOR is a cellular fuel sensor whose hypothalamic activity is directly tied to the regulation of energy intake.     

leptin及其受体的研究进展

leptin是肥胖基因（obese gene,OB基因）的蛋白产物，具有广泛的生物学功能。据现有研究发现，leptin具有参与调节摄食，能量代谢，激素分泌，生物，生殖和免疫等过程的功能。leptin通过其受体发挥调节作用。笔者综述了leptin的受体。生物学功能。调控动物体重的作用机理及leptin抵抗。     

Discrimination of tones during reinforcing brain stimulation

Hungry animals were trained to press a lever for brain stimulation. Different tones were presented concurrently with the stimulation. A second lever delivered food only during critical tone periods. Animals were able to discriminate tones presented concurrently with rewarding intracranial stimulation, and they also interrupted self-stimulation behavior to respond appropriately under other reinforcements.     

"Copulation-reward site" in the posterior hypothalamus

Posterior hypothalamic selfstimulation of male rats, in which monopolar,platinum electrodes had been belaterally implanted, increased after systdmic injection of testosterone. constant stimulation to the same site elicited immediate copulation with estrous female rats. During constant stimulation males would press a bar to open a door for access to females. Even after ejaculation, males continued to open the door and to display sexual activity until stimulation terminated. Posterior hypothalamic stimulation is like normal sexual stimulation; it is rewarding, the reward varies with the amount of the sex hormone, and it elicits motivated copulation.     

Estrogen memory effect in human hepatocytes during repeated cell division without hormone

Transient stimulation of target tissues by sex steroids can cause long-lasting changes that may facilitate or alter responses to subsequent hormonal treatment. How these altered characteristics are propagated during cell division in the absence of the stimulating hormone is unknown. The human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 was used as a model to examine the effects of estrogen on the synthesis of serum apolipoproteins in vitro. Treatment with low concentrations of estrogen for 24 to 48 hours resulted in long-lasting alterations in the kinetics with which the cells responded to subsequent stimulation with estrogen. Manifestation of this memory effect was correlated quantitatively with the induction and propagation of a moderate-affinity, nuclear, estrogen-binding protein with the characteristics of a type II estrogen receptor. The data indicate that transient exposure of these cells to estrogen can induce changes in their response characteristics and composition of nuclear proteins that are inherited by daughter cells grown in the absence of hormone for more than ten generations.     

荷斯坦牛leptin基因exon 2突变与泌乳性能的关联分析

leptin蛋白是leptin基因在脂肪组织表达的一种蛋白质,经证实,其基因单核苷酸多态性与奶牛的繁殖力、能量平衡及乳蛋白含量相关。本研究运用PCR-RFLP方法,对荷斯坦牛leptin基因外显子2序列E2JW和E2FB位点进行了突变检测,并分离了基因型,然后应用SAS 8.2软件分析了两个位点突变对泌乳性能的影响。结果发现,E2JW SNP不同基因型对乳脂率(P=0.02)、305d产奶量(P=0.03)的影响显著;E2FB SNP不同基因型对乳蛋白率的影响显著(P=0.04);在分析E2JW SNP和E2FB SNP联合基因型对305 d产奶量的影响中,AB/CC基因型与AA/CC、AA/CD、AA/DD、AB/CD、AB/DD之间存在显著性差异,在对乳脂率的影响中,AA/CD基因型与AB/CD基因型之间存在显著性差异;因此,荷斯坦牛leptin基因E2JW和E2FB位点可以作为影响泌乳性能的两个标记。     

The role of leptin in bovine adipocyte fat metabolism in vitro

To identify the effect of leptin on adipocyte, preadipocyte was isolated from male dairy calves and cultured in a monolayer; 5 μg·L^?1 bovine leptin were added in culture liquid when the cell differentiated into adipocytes. The result showed that leptin decreased the deposition of triglyceride (TG) and increased the levels of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA in cells. At the same time, leptin suppressed the levels of endogenous leptin mRNA, and the levels of leptin receptor (Ob-R) mRNA were raised significantly. It indicated that leptin may induce more fat metabolism directly.     

TEST OF DEUTSCH'S DRIVE-DECAY THEORY OF REWARDING SELF-STIMULATION OF THE BRAIN

Deutsch's theory of intracranial self-stimulation generates experimental predictions regarding the effects of both free stimulation of the brain and the pre-extinction training procedure on extinction behavior after rewarding stimulation of the brain. The results of one experiment confirmed the prediction regarding free stimulation; the other experiment did not provide the expected result. We concluded that Deutsch's theory, in its present form, is of restricted enerality.     

瘦素在妊娠小鼠子宫着床点与非着床点中的表达研究

目的:探讨瘦素在妊娠小鼠子宫着床点与非着床点中的表达规律。方法:性成熟雌性NIH小鼠与成熟雄鼠自然交配,在妊娠5,6 d分别脱臼处死小鼠取其子宫,然后进行以下实验:1.分别提取总RNA,检测胚胎着床点和非着床点子宫瘦素mRNA表达规律;2.分别进行石蜡包埋,切片,然后进行免疫组化试验,检测瘦素蛋白的表达规律。结果:妊娠5,6 d小鼠子宫着床点与非着床点中均有瘦素mRNA和蛋白表达,蛋白主要定位于腔上皮和腺上皮,着床点mRNA水平比非着床点显著增强。结论:瘦素在着床点与非着床点子宫组织中的表达差异提示瘦素在胚胎着床中的生理作用。     

Relation between REM sleep and intracranial self-stimulation

Depriving rats of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was shown to lower their thresholds and raise their response rates for rewarding brain stimulation. Conversely, allowing rats to self-stimulate while they were being deprived of this sleep form reduced the amount of REM rebound during recovery from deprivation. These results demonstrate a reciprocal relation between rewarding brain stimulation and REM sleep.     

Calcium and electric potential across the clam mantle

Hungry rats were trained to time precisely by rewarding with food those lever responses spaced 20 to 22 seconds apart. Injections of nicotine disrupted the timing behavior slightly, but pronounced delayed effects occurred 3 and 4 days after the drug injection and following a temporary return to base-line performance.     

大豆黄酮对产蛋鸡摄食行为及有关内分泌的影响

选用35周龄伊莎产蛋鸡8只,分别安装慢性颈静脉血管插管,手术后经过适应期,待产蛋鸡体况良好、摄食正常,开始实验。实验采用自身对照法,对照期饲喂基础日粮,实验期在喂料前通过颈静脉血管插管注射大豆黄酮。应用摄食行为计算机监测系统(FIDAS系统)记录各个实验期产蛋鸡喂料后4 h内的采食行为数据。结果显示,实验期(注射大豆黄酮后)与对照期相比较,产蛋鸡午前(8:00~12:00)与午后(13:00~17:00)4 h内摄食量分别增加21.9%与33.9%(P<0.05);摄食时间分别增加3.3%与12.3%;摄食餐数分别增加14.3%与49.1%(P<0.01);血糖水平分别降低10.3%(P<0.05)与21.5%(P<0.01),瘦素水平分别升高14.9%与4.32%,胰岛素水平分别升高14.6%与27.7%(P<0.01)。提示大豆黄酮能够促进蛋鸡摄食,并影响有关内分泌激素的水平。     

初生肉仔鸡血清和下丘脑摄食调节相关激素的发育规律与品种特点

 【目的】研究初生肉仔鸡血清和下丘脑摄食调节相关激素的发育规律并进行品种间比较。【方法】观测了北京油鸡和AA鸡在孵出后0、1、3、5、7、9和11 d的采食量,血清和下丘脑的胰岛素和瘦素及下丘脑NPY和α-MSH水平的变化。【结果】北京油鸡和AA鸡的生长规律基本一致,但前者的ADFI和ADG极显著低于后者（P＜0.01）。北京油鸡血清胰岛素随日龄的波动较大,而AA鸡除0 d外,其它日龄维持在7.5 μIU•ml-1左右。北京油鸡血清瘦素在各个日龄间无明显差异,而AA鸡1和3 d血清瘦素显著高于0 d（P≤0.03）。北京油鸡下丘脑瘦素随日龄增长呈下降趋势,而AA鸡1 d下丘脑瘦素高于0 d（P＜0.01）,而后有所降低。2个品种的下丘脑胰岛素和NPY随日龄的变化趋势一致。下丘脑胰岛素在出壳后前5 d的水平较高,而后有所下降。下丘脑NPY随日龄增长而上升,其中7 d最高。北京油鸡下丘脑α-MSH在出壳后前7 d的水平较低,而后有所升高,而AA鸡下丘脑α-MSH随日龄增长而降低,达5 d最低,而后又上升。相关分析表明,血清瘦素、下丘脑胰岛素、瘦素和NPY与ADFI的相关性较强,而血清胰岛素和下丘脑α-MSH与ADFI的相关性不强。【结论】血清和下丘脑的摄食相关激素的发育规律因品种和指标不同而异,胰岛素、瘦素、NPY和α-MSH在雏鸡开食过程中可能发挥着一定作用,但其具体调节机制仍需进一步研究。     

几种候选基因在牛育种中的研究进展

牛基因组的遗传标记图谱上有3 800多个分子标记座位,它为寻找某些影响显著的数量性状位点提供了便利的条件。其中研究最为深入的有:抑肌素基因、生长激素基因、生长激素受体基因、胰岛素样生长基因子1基因、脑垂体特异性转录因子1基因和瘦蛋白基因。其他的候选基因也鉴定出来并定位到特定的染色体区域上。综述了几种侯选基因在牛育种中的研究进展。     

不同基质对多肉玉珠帘叶插的影响

[目的]研究不同基质对多肉玉珠帘叶插的影响。[方法]以玉珠帘为材料,采用叶插的方法,研究了不同基质、不同生根剂与同一生根剂不同时间处理对玉珠帘根和芽的影响。[结果]不同扦插基质处理玉珠帘对其成活率、出芽率、生根率的影响差异性不显著,但是对其根和芽的生长影响差异性显著。同一激素不同处理时间对玉珠帘叶基部处理时,浸泡时间越长对其生根发芽的抑制作用越显著,IBA处理的玉珠帘生长差异性显著,当处理时间为40 s时整体效果最理想,此时玉珠帘的生根出芽情况较理想。不同激素处理中,清水对照效果最好,6-BA+NAA次之,而6-BA效果最差。[结论]适宜的激素浓度和处理时间可以显著提高玉珠帘的发芽率、芽长、根长,从而提高玉珠帘的扦插成活率。     

Growth-rings of trees: their correlation with climate

Many differences in the ring-width growth within a tree may be attributed to changing supplies of food and hormones. In moist sites or during periods of favorable climate, there may be sufficient food for the production of wide rings throughout the tree. But in dry sites or during years of low moisture and high temperatures, food competition within the tree is likely to be greater and the cambium at the base of the stem is likely to receive a limited food supply and may produce narrow rings. The cambium at the stem base depends upon the entire crown for food, hence ring growth reflects the tree's ambient climate. But, the cambium in the top of the tree or in the upper branches depends upon a more restricted portion of the crown for its food and hormone supplies. The rings produced by the cambium vary greatly from branch to branch and are less reliable indicators of the climate surrounding the entire tree than rings at the tree base. Therefore, ring series at the base of trees in semiarid sites provide the most reliable, as well as the longest, record of macroclimatic variation. Tree-ring widths in certain coniferous species growing in semiarid sites appear to represent the integrated effect of climate on food-making and food accumulation in the crown throughout the 14 to 15 months previous to and including the period of growth. Trees in warm, low-elevation sites may utilize winter moisture most efficiently; trees in cool, high-elevation or more northern sites may utilize early summer and early autumn moisture most efficiently. But even with these differences, a significant amount of variance is found to be common among tree-ring series from a wide range of sites, species, and geographical areas in western North America (14, 19, 34), emphasizing a common dependence of ring widths on the gross regional patterns of precipitation and temperature. The remaining variance, which is not correlated among sites, may be attributed to local en-vironmental and climatic differences, to variability among and within trees, and to compounding effects of occasional fires, insect or other infestations, and recurring years of high seed production. It is evident that a large portion of the variability in ring-width patterns from semiarid sites in western North America does reflect differences in climate from year to year. If ring chro- nologies are derived from a number of trees in semiarid sites and if adequate corrections for age and trend are made, these chronologies may be used to reconstruct a first approximation of annual, or somewhat longer period, climatic fluctuations in the past (19).