Abstract
We used parabiosis to determine whether the central nervous system (CNS)-mediated antidiabetic effects of leptin are mediated by release of brain-derived circulating factors. Parabiosis was surgically induced at 4 weeks of age, and an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula was placed in the lateral cerebral ventricle at 12 weeks of age for ICV infusion of leptin or saline vehicle. Ten days after surgery, food intake, body weight, and blood glucose were measured for 5 consecutive days, and insulin-deficiency diabetes was induced in all rats by a single streptozotocin (STZ) injection (40 mg/kg). Five days after STZ injection, leptin or vehicle was infused ICV for 7 days, followed by 5-day recovery period. STZ increased blood glucose and food intake. Chronic ICV leptin infusion restored normoglycemia in leptin-infused rats while reducing blood glucose by ∼27% in conjoined vehicle-infused rats. This glucose reduction was caused mainly by decreased hepatic gluconeogenesis. Chronic ICV leptin infusion also reduced net cumulative food intake and increased GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle in leptin/vehicle compared with vehicle/vehicle conjoined rats. These results indicate that leptin's CNS-mediated antidiabetic effects are mediated, in part, by release into the systemic circulation of leptin-stimulated factors that enhance glucose utilization and reduce liver gluconeogenesis.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.