Research

Food intake regulating-neuropeptides are expressed and regulated through pregnancy and following food restriction in rat placenta

Jorge E Caminos^1,2,3 , Susana B Bravo¹ , C Ruth González¹ , Maria F Garcés^1,2 , Libia A Cepeda² , Adriana C González² , Fernando Cordido³ , Miguel López^1,4 and Carlos Diéguez^1,4

¹Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

²Department of Physiology and Genetic Institute, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia

³Endocrine Department, Hospital Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, Spain

⁴CIBER of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto Salud Carlos III, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

author email corresponding author email

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2008, 6:14doi:10.1186/1477-7827-6-14

Published:	2 April 2008

Abstract

Background

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti related peptide (AgRP), cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and melanocortins, the products of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC), are hypothalamic peptides involved in feeding regulation and energy homeostasis. Recent evidence has demonstrated their expression in rat and human placenta.

Methods

In the current study, we have investigated the expression of those neuropeptides in the rat placenta by real-time PCR using a model of maternal food restriction.

Results

Our results showed that placental-derived neuropeptides were regulated through pregnancy and following food restriction.

Conclusion

These data could indicate that placental-derived neuropeptides represent a local regulatory circuit that may fine-tune control of energy balance during pregnancy.