Central NMU signaling in body weight and energy balance regulation: evidence from NMUR2 deletion and chronic central NMU treatment in mice.

• To investigate the role of the central neuromedin U (NMU) signaling system in body weight and energy balance regulation, we examined the effects of long-term intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of NMU in C57Bl/6 mice and in mice lacking the gene encoding NMU receptor 2. In diet-induced obese male and female C57BL/6 mice, icv infusion of NMU (8 microg x day(-1) x mouse(-1)) for 7 days decreased body weight and total energy intake compared with vehicle treatment. However, these parameters were unaffected by NMU treatment in lean male and female C57BL/6 mice fed a standard diet. In addition, female (but not male) NMUR2-null mice had increased body weight and body fat mass when fed a high-fat diet but lacked a clear body weight phenotype when fed a standard diet compared with wild-type littermates. Furthermore, female (but not male) NMUR2-null mice fed a high-fat diet were protected from central NMU-induced body weight loss compared with littermate wild-type mice. Thus, we provide the first evidence that long-term central NMU treatment reduces body weight, food intake, and adiposity and that central NMUR2 signaling is required for these effects in female but not male mice.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adipose Tissue

anatomy & histology

drug effects

Animals

Body Composition

drug effects

genetics

Body Weight

drug effects

genetics

Central Nervous System

drug effects

metabolism

physiology

Energy Intake

drug effects

genetics

Energy Metabolism

drug effects

genetics

Female

Gene Deletion

Injections

Intraventricular

Male

Mice

Mice

Inbred C57BL

Mice

Knockout

Neuropeptides

administration & dosage

pharmacology

Receptors

Neurotransmitter

genetics

metabolism

physiology

Signal Transduction

drug effects

genetics

Time Factors

physiology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)