Kivonat:
Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide originating from
nucleobinding-2 (NUCB2) protein. Nesfatin-1/NUCB2-immunoreactive
neurons are present in the hypothalamic paraventricular
nucleus, the center of the stress-axis, and in the medullary A1
and A2 catecholamine cell groups. The A1 and A2 cell groups
mediate viscerosensory stress information toward the
hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. They contain
noradrenaline, but subsets of these neurons also express
prolactin-releasing peptide acting synergistically with
noradrenaline in the activation of the hypothalamic
paraventricular nucleus during stress. We investigated the
possible role of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the stress response.
Intracerebro-ventricular administration of nesfatin-1 elevated
both plasma adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone levels, while
in vitro stimulation of the hypophysis was ineffective. Single,
long-duration restraint stress activated (Fos positivity) many
of the nesfatin-1/NUCB2-immunoreactive neurons in the
parvocellular part of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus,
evoked nesfatin-1/NUCB2 mRNA expression in the parvocellular
part of the paraventricular nucleus and in the A1, but not in
the A2 cell group. Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was shown to co-localize in
a high percentage of prolactin-releasing peptide producing
neurons, in both medullary catecholamine cell groups further
supporting its involvement in the stress response. Finally,
bilateral adrenalectomy evoked an increasing nesfatin-1/NUCB2
mRNA expression, indicating that it is under the negative
feedback of adrenal steroids. These data provide the first
evidence for possible participation of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the
stress-axis regulation, both at the level of the brainstem and
in the hypothalamus.