TITLE:
Exogenous Urocortin 1 Alters the Respiratory Exchange Ratio after Administration into the Lateral Septum
AUTHORS:
Anna I. Fimmel, Lindsey M. Dono, Matthew N. Yee, Paul J. Currie
KEYWORDS:
Energy Substrate Oxidation; Food Intake; Lateral Septum; Respiratory Quotient; Urocortin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science,
Vol.4 No.2,
February
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: Previous reports have suggested
that hypothalamic urocortin 1 (Ucn1) exerts inhibitory control on energy
metabolism as direct paraventricular nucleus injections
dose-dependently decrease the respiratory energy
exchange ratio (RER). Other evidence indicates that Ucn1
injections into the lateral septum may alter metabolic function. Consequently,
the present study was designed to further characterize the effects of lateral
septal Ucn1 signaling on eating and energy metabolism of adult
Sprague-Dawley rats. Ucn1 was infused at the onset of the nocturnal cycle
at doses of 10 - 100 pmol. In both
females and males the peptide elicited a reliable suppression of food intake
and significantly lowered RER over a 4 h postinjection
period. The decrease in RER is consistent with enhanced lipid
oxidation. Overall these findings suggest that, similar
to the paraventricular nucleus, the lateral septum is a critical site of action
in mediating the effects of Ucn1 on food intake and energy substrate
utilization.