Diabetes Metab J.  2017 Apr;41(2):121-127. 10.4093/dmj.2017.41.2.121.

Regulating Hypothalamus Gene Expression in Food Intake: Dietary Composition or Calorie Density?

• Jang M
• Park SY
• Kim YW
• Jung SP
• Kim JY

• KMID: 2376774
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2017.41.2.121

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The proportion of saturated fatty acids/unsaturated fatty acids in the diet seems to act as a physiological regulation on obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Differently composed fatty acid diets may induce satiety of the hypothalamus in different ways. However, the direct effect of the different fatty acid diets on satiety in the hypothalamus is not clear.
METHODS
Three experiments in mice were conducted to determine whether: different compositions of fatty acids affects gene mRNA expression of the hypothalamus over time; different types of fatty acids administered into the stomach directly affect gene mRNA expression of the hypothalamus; and fat composition changes in the diet affects gene mRNA expression of the hypothalamus.
RESULTS
The type of fat in cases of purified fatty acid administration directly into the stomach may cause changes of gene expressions in the hypothalamus. Gene expression by dietary fat may be regulated by calorie amount ingested rather than weight amount or type of fat.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, the calorie density factor of the diet in regulating hypothalamic gene in food intake may be detrimental, although the possibility of type of fat cannot be ruled out.

Keyword

Dietary fats; Eating; Gene expression; Hypothalamus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diet
Dietary Fats
Eating*
Fatty Acids
Gene Expression*
Hypothalamus*
Mice
Obesity
RNA, Messenger
Stomach
Dietary Fats
Fatty Acids
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Time series of (A) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), (B) neuropeptide Y (NPY), and (C) agouti-related protein (AgRP) mRNA expressions after administration of saturated fatty acid into the stomach. Values are mean±standard error for three to four mice per group. aP<0.01 vs. other groups, bP<0.01 vs. other groups.

• 

  Fig. 2 Relative (A) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), (B) neuropeptide Y (NPY), and (C) agouti-related protein (AgRP) mRNA expressions 2 hours after administration of saturated (high saturated fatty acid [SFA]) or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) into the stomach. Values are mean±standard error for nine to 12 mice per group. aP<0.01 vs. control, bP<0.05 vs. control or SFA, cP<0.01 vs. control or SFA.

• 

  Fig. 3 Relative (A) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), (B) neuropeptide Y (NPY), and (C) agouti-related protein (AgRP) mRNA expressions in various diet fed mice. Values are mean±standard error for six to nine mice per group. CHO, high carbohydrates diet group; SFA, high saturated fat diet group; PUFA, high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid diet group. aP<0.05 vs. CHO, bP<0.05 vs. SFA, cP<0.01 vs. CHO.

• 

  Fig. 4 Correlations between the ratio of neuropeptide Y (NPY)/pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expressions and (A) food intake (g) or (B) food intake (kcal) in various diet fed mice.

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