Mechanism of programmed obesity in intrauterine fetal growth restricted offspring: paradoxically enhanced appetite stimulation in fed and fasting states.

ABSTRACT: We have shown that intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) newborn rats exhibit hyperphagia, reduced satiety, and adult obesity. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a principal metabolic regulator that specifically regulates appetite in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). In response to fasting, upregulated AMPK activity increases the expression of orexigenic (neuropeptide Y [NPY] and agouti-related protein [AgRP]) and decreases anorexigenic (proopiomelanocortin [POMC]) peptides. We hypothesized that IUGR offspring would exhibit upregulated hypothalamic AMPK, contributing to hyperphagia and obesity. We determined AMPK activity and appetite-modulating peptides (NPY and POMC) during fasting and fed conditions in the ARC of adult IUGR and control females.

SUBMITTER: Fukami T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3343065 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature