Integration of reproduction and metabolism is necessary for species survival. While the neural circuits controlling energy homeostasis are well-characterized, the signals controlling the relay of nutritional information to the reproductive axis are less understood. The cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni is ideal for studying the neural regulation of feeding and reproduction because females cycle between a feeding gravid state and a period of forced starvation while they brood developing young inside their mouths. To test the hypothesis that candidate neuropeptide-containing neurons known to be involved in feeding and energy homeostasis in mammals show conserved distribution patterns, we performed immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to localize appetite-stimulating (neuropeptide Y, NPY; agouti-related protein, AGRP) and appetite-inhibiting (cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript, CART; pro-opiomelanocortin, pomc1a) neurons in the brain. NPY, AGRP, CART, and pomc1a somata showed distribution patterns similar to other teleosts, which included localization to the lateral tuberal nucleus (NLT), the putative homolog of the mammalian arcuate nucleus. Gravid females also had larger NPY and AGRP neurons in the NLT compared to brooding females, but brooding females had larger pomc1a neurons compared to gravid females. Hypothalamic agrp mRNA levels were also higher in gravid compared to brooding females. Thus, larger appetite-stimulating neurons (NPY, AGRP) likely promote feeding while females are gravid, while larger pomc1a neurons may act as a signal to inhibit food intake during mouth brooding. Collectively, our data suggest a potential role for NPY, AGRP, POMC, and CART in regulating energetic status in A. burtoni females during varying metabolic and reproductive demands.
Pubmed ID: 28649723 RIS Download
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
This unknown targets Digoxigenin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Neuropeptide Y (NPY) antibody produced in rabbit
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets IgG
View all literature mentionsSoftware for image processing, analysis, and editing. The software includes features such as touch capabilities, a customizable toolbar, 2D and 3D image merging, and Cloud access and options.
View all literature mentionsMicroscope imaging software suite used with Nikon products. NIS-Elements includes software applications for advanced and standard research, documentation, confocal microscopy, and high-content analysis.
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Digoxigenin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Neuropeptide Y (NPY) antibody produced in rabbit
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets IgG
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets IgG
View all literature mentions