Oxytocinergic circuit from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei to arcuate POMC neurons in hypothalamus

FEBS Lett. 2014 Nov 28;588(23):4404-12. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.10.010. Epub 2014 Oct 18.

Abstract

Intracerebroventricular injection of oxytocin (Oxt), a neuropeptide produced in hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON), melanocortin-dependently suppresses feeding. However, the underlying neuronal pathway is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether Oxt regulates propiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. Intra-ARC injection of Oxt decreased food intake. Oxt increased cytosolic Ca(2+) in POMC neurons isolated from ARC. ARC POMC neurons expressed Oxt receptors and were contacted by Oxt terminals. Retrograde tracer study revealed the projection of PVN and SON Oxt neurons to ARC. These results demonstrate the novel oxytocinergic signaling from PVN/SON to ARC POMC, possibly regulating feeding.

Keywords: Arcuate nucleus; Feeding; Obesity; Oxytocin; Proopiomelanocortin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / cytology*
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Cerebral Ventricles / cytology*
  • Cerebral Ventricles / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Oxytocin / pharmacology*
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Oxytocin / metabolism
  • Supraoptic Nucleus / cytology*
  • Supraoptic Nucleus / drug effects

Substances

  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • Oxytocin
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin