(Hypertension. 1999;33:542-547.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
Interactions Between the Melanocortin System and Leptin in Control of Sympathetic Nerve Traffic
From the Hypertension Genetics Specialized Center of Research, Cardiovascular Center, and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa.
Correspondence to William G. Haynes, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail william-g-haynes{at}uiowa.edu
Abstract—Leptin plays an important role in regulation of body weight through regulation of food intake and sympathetically mediated thermogenesis. The hypothalamic melanocortin system, via activation of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R), decreases appetite and weight, but its effects on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) are unknown. In addition, it is not known whether sympathoactivation to leptin is mediated by the melanocortin system. We tested the interactions between these systems in regulation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and renal and lumbar SNA in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of the MC4-R agonist MT-II (200 to 600 pmol) produced a dose-dependent sympathoexcitation affecting BAT and renal and lumbar beds. This response was completely blocked by the MC4-R antagonist SHU9119 (30 pmol ICV). Administration of leptin (1000 µg/kg IV) slowly increased BAT SNA (baseline, 41±6 spikes/s; 6 hours, 196±28 spikes/s; P=0.001) and renal SNA (baseline, 116±16 spikes/s; 6 hours, 169±26 spikes/s; P=0.014). Intracerebroventricular administration of SHU9119 did not inhibit leptin-induced BAT sympathoexcitation (baseline, 35±7 spikes/s; 6 hours, 158±34 spikes/s; P=0.71 versus leptin alone). However, renal sympathoexcitation to leptin was completely blocked by SHU9119 (baseline, 142±17 spikes/s; 6 hours, 146±25 spikes/s; P=0.007 versus leptin alone). This study demonstrates that the hypothalamic melanocortin system can act to increase sympathetic nerve traffic to thermogenic BAT and other tissues. Our data also suggest that leptin increases renal SNA through activation of hypothalamic melanocortin receptors. In contrast, sympathoactivation to thermogenic BAT by leptin appears to be independent of the melanocortin system.
Key Words: autonomic nervous system • renal nerves • sympathetic nervous system • brain • obesity • leptin
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