Metabolic effects of neuropeptide Y injections into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

Abstract

The metabolic effects of single injections of neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the paraventricular hypothalamus were investigated in an open-circuit calorimeter. Wistar rats were tested, with no food available during the tests. Over the dose range of 10–156 pmol NPY had large effects on respiratory quotient (RQ) while having no effect on energy expenditure or locomotor activity. The effects of NPY on RQ were unusual both in respect to their dose-response and time-dose-response characteristics. The lowest dose (10 pmol) produced a very low latency reduction in RQ which indicates a decreased utilization of carbohydrates as an energy substrate. The next higher dose (20 pmol) had no effect, whereas the next three doses (39, 78 and 156 pmol) produced increases in RQ which indicate an increased utilization of carbohydrates as an energy substrate. Surprisingly, the latencies of the increased RQs were dose-dependent over the range of 30 min to 20 h with the highest dose producing the longest latency effect. The finding of a positive relation of dose to response latency over a time range of from a few minutes to 20 h is unprecedented and appears to represent a neuromodulatory effect of NPY that acts in concert with its neurotransmitter effects. These data highlight the central role of NPY in modulating energy substrate utilization and indicate the importance of elucidating time-dose-response relationships when investigating the effects of NPY.