Glucocorticoids increase NPY gene expression in the arcuate nucleus by inhibiting mTOR signaling in rat hypothalamic organotypic cultures

Hiroshi Shimizu, Hiroshi Arima, Yoshiharu Ozawa, Minemori Watanabe, Ryoichi Banno, Yoshihisa Sugimura, Nobuaki Ozaki, Hiroshi Nagasaki, Yutaka Oiso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been implicated in the regulation of physiological functions such as cell growth and proliferation, and glucocorticoids reportedly inhibit mTOR signaling in peripheral tissues. Recent studies suggest that the mTOR signaling in the hypothalamus plays a critical role in maintaining energy homeostasis. In this study, we examined whether the mTOR signaling in the hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of neuropeptide Y (Npy) gene expression in the arcuate nucleus by glucocorticoids. In the hypothalamic organotypic cultures, the incubation with rapamycin significantly inhibited the mTOR signaling which was shown by decreases in the levels of phosphorylated p70S6K1 and S6. Similar to the action of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, also inhibited the mTOR signaling in the hypothalamic explants. Analyses of the explants with in situ hybridization demonstrated that the DEX or rapamycin alone significantly increased Npy gene expression in the arcuate nucleus, but that there were no additive effects of DEX and rapamycin on the expression. These data suggest that glucocorticoids upregulate the Npy gene expression in the arcuate nucleus by inhibiting mTOR signaling, at least in part.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)145-149
Number of pages5
JournalPeptides
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-2010
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Glucocorticoids increase NPY gene expression in the arcuate nucleus by inhibiting mTOR signaling in rat hypothalamic organotypic cultures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this