Endocrine Abstracts

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a recently discovered peptide shown to be involved in the modulation of arousal and fear responses. It has also been shown that lateral ventricle administration of NPS causes a significant decrease in food intake. Neuropeptides involved in the modulation of arousal have been shown to be involved in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and food intake.Objective: To examine the effect of NPS on the regulati...

The increased appetite associated with hyperthyroidism is assumed to be secondary to an increased metabolic rate. However, the role of thyroid hormones in appetite regulation is poorly understood. We hypothesised that thyroid hormones directly regulate food intake and studied the effects of peripheral and CNS administration of tri-iodothyronine (T3) on food intake in male Wistar rats in vivo.A single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 4.5 nmol per ...

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an agonist at the melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3-R) and MC4-R and stimulates corticosterone release from rat and human adrenal cells. Patients with Cushing's syndrome have elevated levels of serum alpha-MSH. Agouti related protein (AgRP) is an endogenous antagonist at the MC3-R and MC4-R and is expressed in the rat adrenal cortex. AgRP antagonises alpha-MSH-induced corticosterone release from rat and bovine adrenal cells. This ...