Title: Elevated Neuropeptide Y Concentrations in the Central Hypothalamus of the Spontaneously Diabetic BB/E Wistar Rat
Abstract: Insulin‐deficient diabetes causes hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction. The possible role of hypothalamic regulatory peptides in mediating these disturbances was investigated in spontaneously diabetic BB/E Wistar rats. Concentrations of 10 regulatory peptides were measured in the central (nucleus‐rich) and lateral parts of the hypothalamus in 18 diabetic and 5 non‐diabetic BB/E rats. Diabetic rats were treated with either intensified or low‐dose insulin schedules to achieve moderate or severe hyperglycaemia (mean blood glucose concentrations, 8 and 20 mmol I −1 respectively). Neuropeptide Y concentration and content in the central hypothalamus were increased by 30–40% in both moderately and severely hyperglycaemic diabetic groups ( p < 0.01). Lateral hypothalamic neuropeptide Y levels did not differ significantly between the groups. The only other peptide to show any significant difference between diabetic and control rats was calcitonin gene‐related peptide, whose central hypothalamic concentrations were significantly increased in the severely hyperglycaemic animals. Alterations of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y, which has potent experimental effects on hypothalamo‐pituitary function, may contribute to certain neuroendocrine disturbances in insulin‐deficient diabetes.
Publication Year: 1989
Publication Date: 1989-09-10
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 18
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