Effects of neuropeptide Y on the discriminative stimulus and antinociceptive properties of morphine

Interactions between Lateral Hypothalamic Orexin and Dorsal Raphe Circuitry in Energy Balance

Orexin/hypocretin terminals innervate the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), which projects to motor control areas important for spontaneous physical activity (SPA) and energy expenditure (EE). Orexin receptors are expressed in the DRN, and obesity-resistant (OR) rats show higher expression of these receptors in the DRN and elevated SPA/EE. We hypothesized that orexin-A in the DRN enhances SPA/EE and that DRN-GABA modulates the effect of orexin-A on SPA/EE. We manipulated orexin tone in the DRN either through direct injection of orexin-A or through the chemogenetic activation of lateral-hypothalamic (LH) orexin neurons. In the orexin neuron activation experiment, fifteen minutes prior to the chemogenetic activation of orexin neurons, the mice received either the GABA-agonist muscimol or antagonist bicuculline injected into the DRN, and SPA/EE was monitored for 24 h. In a separate experiment, orexin-A was injected into the DRN to study the direct effect of DRN orexin on SPA/EE. We found that the activation of orexin neurons elevates SPA/EE, and manipulation of GABA in the DRN does not alter the SPA response to orexin neuron activation. Similarly, intra-DRN orexin-A enhanced SPA and EE in the mice. These results suggest that orexin-A in the DRN facilitates negative energy balance by increasing physical activity-induced EE, and that modulation of DRN orexin-A is a potential strategy to promote SPA and EE.

Effect of Housing Types on Growth, Feeding, Physical Activity, and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats

Background

Animal welfare and accurate data collection are equally important in rodent research. Housing influences study outcomes and can challenge studies that monitor feeding, so housing choice needs to be evidence-based. The goal of these studies was to (1) compare established measures of well-being between rodents housed in wire grid-bottom floors with a resting platform compared to solid-bottom floors with bedding and (2) determine whether presence of a chewable device (Nylabone) affects orexin-A-induced hyperphagia.

Methods

Rodents were crossed over to the alternate housing twice after 2-week periods. Time required to complete food intake measurements was recorded as an indicator of feasibility. Food intake stimulated by orexin-A was compared with and without the Nylabone. Blood corticosterone and hypothalamic BDNF were assessed.

Results

Housing had no effect on growth, energy expenditure, corticosterone, hypothalamic BDNF, behavior, and anxiety measures. Food intake was disrupted after housing cross-over. Time required to complete food intake measurements was significantly higher for solid-bottom bedded cages. The Nylabone had no effect on orexin-A-stimulated feeding.

Conclusion

Well-being is not significantly different between rodents housed on grid-bottom floors and those in solid-bottom-bedded cages based on overall growth and feeding but alternating between housing confounds measures of feeding.

Mechanisms underlying obesity resistance associated with high spontaneous physical activity

Obesity resistance due to elevated orexin signaling is accompanied by high levels of spontaneous physical activity (SPA). The behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying this observation have not been fully worked out. We determined the contribution of hypothalamic orexin receptors (OXRs) to SPA stimulated by orexin A (OXA), whether OXA-stimulated SPA was secondary to arousal and whether voluntary wheel running led to compensations in 24-h SPA. We further tested whether orexin action on dopamine one receptors (DA1R) in the substantia nigra (SN) plays an important role in the generation of SPA. To test this, SPA response was determined in lean and obese rats with cannulae targeted toward the rostral lateral hypothalamus (rLH) or SN. Sleep/wake states were also measured in rats with rLH cannula and electroencephalogram/electromyogram radiotelemetry transmitters. SPA in lean rats was more sensitive to antagonism of the OX1R and in the early response to the orexin 2 agonist. OXA increased arousal equally in lean and obese rodents, which is discordant from the greater SPA response in lean rats. Obesity-resistant rats ran more and wheel running was directly related to 24-h SPA levels. The OX1R antagonist, SB-334867-A, and the DA1R antagonist, SCH3390, in SN more effectively reduced SPA stimulated by OXA in obesity-resistant rats. These data suggest OXA-stimulated SPA is not secondary to enhanced arousal, propensity for SPA parallels inclination to run and that orexin action on dopaminergic neurons in SN may participate in the mediation of SPA and running wheel activity.

Role of the locus coeruleus in enhanced orexin A-induced spontaneous physical activity in obesity-resistant rats

Orexin/hypocretin terminals innervate noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that project to the prefrontral cortex, which may influence spontaneous physical activity (SPA) and energy balance. Obesity-resistant (OR) rats have higher orexin receptors (OXR) mRNA in the LC and other brain regions, as well as lower adiposity compared with obese rats. These findings led us to hypothesize that orexin activity in the LC is relevant for the OR phenotype. We compared OR rats to Sprague-Dawley rats. We predicted that: 1) brain OXR expression pattern is sufficient to differentiate OR from non-bred Sprague-Dawley rats; 2) nonresting energy expenditure (NREE) and orexin A (OXA)-stimulated SPA after injection in LC would be greater in OR rats; and 3) the effect of OXA on SPA would be greater than its effect on feeding. OXR mRNA from 11 brain sites and the SPA and feeding responses to OXA in the LC were determined. Body composition, basal SPA, and EE were determined. Principal component analysis of the OXR expression pattern differentiates OR and Sprague-Dawley rats and suggests the OXR mRNA in the LC is important in defining the OR phenotype. Compared with Sprague-Dawley rats, OR rats had greater SPA and NREE and lower resting EE and adiposity. SPA responsivity to OXA in the LC was greater in OR rats compared with Sprague-Dawley rats. OXA in the LC did not stimulate feeding in OR or Sprague-Dawley rats. These data suggest that the LC is a prominent site modulating OXA-stimulated SPA, which promotes lower adiposity and higher nonresting EE.

In vivo inhibition of neuropeptide FF agonism by BIBP3226, an NPY Y1 receptor antagonist

BIBP3226 {(R)-N2-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)-methyl]-argininamide} was recently shown to display relatively high affinities for neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptors and exhibit antagonist activities towards NPFF receptors in vitro. The present study was undertaken to investigate the antagonistic effects of BIBP3226 on several in vivo pharmacologic profiles induced by exogenous NPFF and NPVF. (1) BIBP3226 (5 nmol) injected into the third ventricle completely antagonized the hypothermic effects of NPFF (30 nmol) and NPVF (30 nmol) after cerebral administration in mice; (2) BIBP3226 (5 nmol, i.c.v.) prevented the anti-morphine actions of NPFF (10 nmol, i.c.v.) in the mouse tail-flick assay; (3) in urethane-anaesthetized rats, both NPFF (200 nmol/kg, i.v.) and NPVF (200 nmol/kg, i.v.) increased the mean arterial blood pressure, which were significantly reduced by pretreatment with BIBP3226 (500 nmol/kg, i.v.). Collectively, these data suggest that BIBP3226, a mixed antagonist of NPY Y1 and NPFF receptors, shows in vivo antagonistic effects on NPFF receptors. In addition, it seems to be clear that the in vivo pharmacological profiles of NPFF are mediated directly by NPFF receptors.

Elevated hypothalamic orexin signaling, sensitivity to orexin A, and spontaneous physical activity in obesity-resistant rats

Selectively-bred obesity-resistant [diet resistant (DR)] rats weigh less than obesity-prone [diet-induced obese (DIO)] rats, despite comparable daily caloric intake, suggesting phenotypic energy expenditure differences. Human data suggest that obesity is maintained by reduced ambulatory or spontaneous physical activity (SPA). The neuropeptide orexin A robustly stimulates SPA. We hypothesized that DR rats have greater: 1) basal SPA, 2) orexin A-induced SPA, and 3) preproorexin, orexin 1 and 2 receptor (OX1R and OX2R) mRNA, compared with DIO rats. A group of age-matched out-bred Sprague-Dawley rats were used as additional controls for the behavioral studies. DIO, DR, and Sprague-Dawley rats with dorsal-rostral lateral hypothalamic (rLHa) cannulas were injected with orexin A (0, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 pmol/0.5 microl). SPA and food intake were measured for 2 h after injection. Preproorexin, OX1R and OX2R mRNA in the rLHa, and whole hypothalamus were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Orexin A significantly stimulated feeding in all rats. Orexin A-induced SPA was significantly greater in DR and Sprague-Dawley rats than in DIO rats. Two-mo-old DR rats had significantly greater rLHa OX1R and OX2R mRNA than DIO rats but comparable preproorexin levels. Eight-mo-old DR rats had elevated OX1R and OX2R mRNA compared with DIO rats, although this increase was significant for OX2R only at this age. Thus DR rats show elevated basal and orexin A-induced SPA associated with increased OX1R and OX2R gene expression, suggesting that differences in orexin A signaling through OX1R and OX2R may mediate DIO and DR phenotypes.

Orexin A (hypocretin 1) injected into hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and spontaneous physical activity in rats

In humans, nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) increases with positive energy balance. The mediator of the interaction between positive energy balance and physical activity is unknown. In this study, we address the hypothesis that orexin A acts in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to increase nonfeeding-associated physical activity. PVN-cannulated rats were injected with either orexin A or vehicle during the light and dark cycle. Spontaneous physical activity (SPA) was measured using arrays of infrared activity sensors and night vision videotaped recording (VTR). O(2) consumption and CO(2) production were measured by indirect calorimetry. Feeding behavior was assessed by VTR. Regardless of the time point of injection, orexin A (1 nmol) was associated with dramatic increases in SPA for 2 h after injection (orexin A: 6.27 +/- 1.95 x 10(3) beam break count, n = 24; vehicle: 1.85 +/- 1.13 x 10(3), n = 38). This increase in SPA was accompanied by compatible increase in O(2) consumption. Duration of feeding was increased only when orexin A was injected in the early light phase and accounted for only 3.5 +/- 2.5% of the increased physical activity. In a dose-response experiment, increases in SPA were correlated with dose of orexin A linearly up to 2 nmol. PVN injections of orexin receptor antagonist SB-334867 were associated with decreases in SPA and attenuated the effects of PVN-injected orexin A. Thus orexin A can act in PVN to increase nonfeeding-associated physical activity, suggesting that this neuropeptide might be a mediator of NEAT.

Our journey with neuropeptide Y: effects on ingestive behaviors and energy expenditure

Clark and colleagues first described the robust orexigenic effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in 1984. Our group as well as Stanley et al. confirmed these effects in the same year. During the next 20 years, we investigated the effects of NPY on diet preferences, opioid-related feeding, distributed neural feeding networks, energy metabolism, motivation and discriminative stimulus effects. These data together with data from other laboratories indicate that NPY increases feeding, even when rats work for food; that NPY decreases energy expenditure, particularly by altering thermogenesis; and that NPY's effects on energy metabolism are mediated by a widely distributed neural network involving other neuroregulators known to be involved in energy regulation.

Feeding and activity induced by orexin A in the lateral hypothalamus in rats

Orexin A injected into the lateral hypothalamus (LH) stimulates feeding and activates neurons in brain sites regulating feeding and arousal. The feeding effects of orexin A have been demonstrated during the light cycle, a time when rats are normally resting, and the effect of orexin A on activity after injection into the LH has not been previously measured. Thus, it is unclear whether LH orexin A-induced feeding is secondary to enhanced arousal. To address this, LH-cannulated rats habituated to a running wheel were injected with either orexin A (1000 pmol) or vehicle during light and dark cycles. Food intake and running wheel rotations were measured for 2 h. Spontaneous physical activity (SPA) was also measured during the dark cycle. During the light cycle, orexin A in the LH stimulated feeding in the presence and absence of a running wheel and increased number of running wheel rotations in the presence and absence of food. During the dark cycle, orexin A in the LH induced SPA (+/- presence of food), but had no effect on feeding. These data show that LH orexin A stimulation of feeding is not always coincident with increased activity, suggesting that feeding induced by LH-injected orexin A is not consequent to enhanced arousal.

Naloxone blocks 'anxiolytic' effects of neuropeptide Y

Intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) produces potent 'anxiolytic' effects in animal models of anxiety. Administration of opioid receptor antagonists suppresses NPY-induced food intake and thermogenesis. The present study examined whether the opiate antagonist naloxone would also suppress the 'anxiolytic' effects of neuropeptide Y. Following training and stabilization of responding in an operant conflict model of anxiety, rats were injected with either NPY or diazepam. Both NPY (veh., 2, 4, 6 microg, i.c.v.) and chlordiazepoxide (veh., 2, 4, 6 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent increase in punished responding in the conflict test. The 'anxiolytic' effects of NPY were not blocked by the administration of flumazenil (3, 6, 12 mg/kg, i.p.). The administration of naloxone (0.25-2.0 mg/kg, s.c.) antagonized the effects of NPY. Central administration of the selective mu opiate antagonist CTAP (1 microg, i.c.v.) partially blocked NPY-induced conflict responding. These results support the hypothesis that NPY may play an important role in experimental anxiety independent of the benzodiazepine receptor and further implicate the opioid system in the behavioral expression of anxiety.