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Shikano K, Taniuchi S, Iwakoshi-Ukena E, Furumitsu M, Bentley GE, Kriegsfeld LJ, Ukena K. Chronic subcutaneous infusion of neurosecretory protein GM increases body mass gain in chicks. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 265:71-76. [PMID: 29155267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recently we discovered a small hypothalamic protein in the chicken, named neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), which is associated with body growth and energy metabolism in birds and rodents. Genome database analysis suggested that the NPGL gene has a paralogous gene in vertebrates, named neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM). However, the biological action of NPGM remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether NPGM affects body growth in chicks. We found that subcutaneous infusion of NPGM for six days increased body mass gain in a dose-dependent manner. Despite the observed increase in body mass, infusion of NPGM did not alter food and water intake. Of note, we observed tendency of mass increase of several peripheral tissues, specifically. When we compared several tissue types, NPGM seemed to induce the largest growth increase in white adipose tissue mass. These results suggest that NPGM may accelerate fat accumulation and body growth. In addition, we analyzed whether NPGM increases body growth through the action of pituitary hormones. However, we observed no significant changes in mRNA expression of pituitary hormones or plasma levels of growth hormone in NPGM-treated chicks. This is the first report describing the biological action of NPGM in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenshiro Shikano
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Shusuke Taniuchi
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Department of Integrative Biology and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Megumi Furumitsu
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - George E Bentley
- Department of Integrative Biology and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Lance J Kriegsfeld
- Department of Psychology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Department of Psychology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA.
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Ukena K. Avian and murine neurosecretory protein GL participates in the regulation of feeding and energy metabolism. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 260:164-170. [PMID: 28951261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Probing previously unknown neuropeptides and/or peptide hormones is essential for our understanding of the regulation of energy homeostasis in the brain. We recently performed a cDNA subtractive screening of the chicken hypothalamus, which contained one of the feeding and energy metabolic centers. We found a gene encoding a novel protein of 182 amino acid residues, including one putative small secretory protein of 80 amino acid residues. The C-terminal amino acids of the small protein were Gly-Leu-NH2, and as a result, the small protein was termed neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL). Subcutaneous and intracerebroventricular infusions of NPGL increased body mass gain in chicks, suggesting a central role for this protein in regulating growth and energy homeostasis. A database search revealed that the Npgl gene is conserved in vertebrates, including mice and rats. This review summarizes the advances in the characterization, localization, and biological action of NPGL, in birds and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan.
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Shikano K, Kato M, Iwakoshi-Ukena E, Furumitsu M, Matsuura D, Masuda K, Tachibana T, Bentley GE, Kriegsfeld LJ, Ukena K. Effects of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of neurosecretory protein GL on body mass and food and water intake in chicks. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 256:37-42. [PMID: 28554734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we discovered a novel cDNA encoding the precursor of a small secretory protein, neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), in the chicken mediobasal hypothalamus. In this study, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that NPGL was produced in the infundibular and medial mammillary nuclei of the mediobasal hypothalamus, with immunoreactive fibers also detected in the hypothalamus and the median eminence. As it is known that these regions are involved in feeding behavior in chicks, we surveyed the effects of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of NPGL on feeding behavior and body mass for a period of two weeks. NPGL stimulated food and water intake, with a concomitant increase in body mass. However, NPGL did not influence mRNA expression of several hypothalamic ingestion-related neuropeptides. Our data suggest that NPGL may be a novel neuronal regulator involved in growth processes in chicks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenshiro Shikano
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Masaki Kato
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Department of Integrative Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Megumi Furumitsu
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Daichi Matsuura
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Keiko Masuda
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tachibana
- Department of Agrobiological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan
| | - George E Bentley
- Department of Integrative Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Lance J Kriegsfeld
- Department of Psychology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Department of Psychology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA.
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Ukena K, Iwakoshi-Ukena E, Taniuchi S, Bessho Y, Maejima S, Masuda K, Shikano K, Kondo K, Furumitsu M, Tachibana T. Identification of a cDNA encoding a novel small secretory protein, neurosecretory protein GL, in the chicken hypothalamic infundibulum. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 446:298-303. [PMID: 24582750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.02.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
To find novel neuropeptide and/or peptide hormone precursors in the avian brain, we performed a cDNA subtractive screen of the chicken hypothalamic infundibulum, which contains one of the feeding and neuroendocrine centers. After sequencing 596 clones, we identified a novel cDNA encoding a previously unknown protein. The deduced precursor protein consisted of 182 amino acid residues, including one putative small secretory protein of 80 amino acid residues. This small protein was flanked at the N-terminus by a signal peptide and at the C-terminus by a glycine amidation signal and a dibasic amino acid cleavage site. Because the predicted C-terminal amino acids of the small protein were Gly-Leu-NH2, the small protein was named neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated specific expression of the NPGL precursor mRNA in the hypothalamic infundibulum. Furthermore, the mRNA levels in the hypothalamic infundibulum increased during post-hatching development. In situ hybridization analysis showed that the cells containing the NPGL precursor mRNA were localized in the medial mammillary nucleus and infundibular nucleus within the hypothalamic infundibulum of 8- and 15-day-old chicks. Subcutaneous infusion of NPGL in chicks increased body weight gain without affecting food intake. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the identification and localization of the NPGL precursor mRNA and the function of its translated product in animals. Our findings indicate that NPGL may participate in the growth process in chicks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan.
| | - Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Shusuke Taniuchi
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Yuki Bessho
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Sho Maejima
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Keiko Masuda
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Kenshiro Shikano
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Kondo
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Megumi Furumitsu
- Section of Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tachibana
- Department of Agrobiological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan
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