Effects of Kisspeptin-10 on Hypothalamic Neuropeptides and Neurotransmitters Involved in Appetite Control.

Orlando, Giustino; Leone, Sheila; Ferrante, Claudio; Chiavaroli, Annalisa; Mollica, Adriano; Stefanucci, Azzurra; Macedonio, Giorgia; Dimmito, Marilisa Pia; Leporini, Lidia; Menghini, Luigi; Brunetti, Luigi; Recinella, Lucia

Besides its role as key regulator in gonadotropin releasing hormone secretion, reproductive function, and puberty onset, kisspeptin has been proposed to act as a bridge between energy homeostasis and reproduction. In the present study, to characterize the role of hypothalamic kisspeptin as metabolic regulator, we evaluated the effects of kisspeptin-10 on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression and the extracellular dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine, 5-HT), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIIA) concentrations in rat hypothalamic (Hypo-E22) cells. Our study showed that kisspeptin-10 in the concentration range 1 nM–10 μM was well tolerated by the Hypo-E22 cell line. Moreover, kisspeptin-10 (100 nM–10 μM) concentration independently increased the gene expression of NPY while BDNF was inhibited only at the concentration of 10 μM. Finally, kisspeptin-10 decreased 5-HT and DA, leaving unaffected NE levels. The inhibitory effect on DA and 5-HT is consistent with the increased peptide-induced DOPAC/DA and 5-HIIA/5-HT ratios. In conclusion, our current findings suggesting the increased NPY together with decreased BDNF and 5-HT activity following kisspeptin-10 would be consistent with a possible orexigenic effect induced by the peptide.

NEUROPEPTIDE Y; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of peptides; NEUROTRANSMITTERS; APPETITE depressants; LUTEINIZING hormone releasing hormone; HYPOTHALAMIC hormones; HOMEOSTASIS; BRAIN-derived neurotrophic factor

Molecules, 2018, Vol 23, Issue 12, p3071

1420-3049

Academic Journal

10.3390/molecules23123071