scholarly journals Reproduction and energy balance: the integrative role of prolactin

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
T I Romantsova

The physiological mechanisms controlling reproduction are closely linked to energy balance. In the recent years, accumulating evidence suggests that prolactin regulates metabolic functions, besides regulating breast development and stimulating milk formation. Hyperprolactinemia is associated with obesity and treatment with dopamine agonists results in weight loss. We discuss the integrated effects of prolactin in the metabolic control and reproductive function, the role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of obesity. The present review also describes the effects of treatment with cabergoline on body weight and cardiovascular risk markers.

Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. R53-R63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie-Ann P De Bond ◽  
Jeremy T Smith

Kisspeptin is vital for the neuroendocrine regulation of GNRH secretion. Kisspeptin neurons are now recognized as a central pathway responsible for conveying key homeostatic information to GNRH neurons. This pathway is likely to mediate the well-established link between energy balance and reproductive function. Thus, in states of severely altered energy balance (either negative or positive), fertility is compromised, as isKiss1expression in the arcuate nucleus. A number of metabolic modulators have been proposed as regulators of kisspeptin neurons including leptin, ghrelin, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Whether these regulate kisspeptin neurons directly or indirectly will be discussed. Moreover, whether the stimulatory role of leptin on reproduction is mediated by kisspeptin directly will be questioned. Furthermore, in addition to being expressed in GNRH neurons, the kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1r) is also expressed in other areas of the brain, as well as in the periphery, suggesting alternative roles for kisspeptin signaling outside of reproduction. Interestingly, kisspeptin neurons are anatomically linked to, and can directly excite, anorexigenic POMC neurons and indirectly inhibit orexigenic NPY neurons. Thus, kisspeptin may have a direct role in regulating energy balance. Although data fromKiss1rknockout and WT mice found no differences in body weight, recent data indicate that kisspeptin may still play a role in food intake and glucose homeostasis. Thus, in addition to regulating reproduction, and mediating the effect of energy balance on reproductive function, kisspeptin signaling may also be a direct regulator of metabolism.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (2) ◽  
pp. R203-R208
Author(s):  
R. B. Melnyk ◽  
J. M. Martin

Insulin binding to receptors in a partially purified hypothalamic membrane preparation is altered by prolonged starvation. To define further the relationship between hypothalamic insulin binding and energy balance, we studied the Richardson's ground squirrel, a hibernator that exhibits spontaneous 6- to 8-mo body weight cycles when kept in constant conditions. Isolated pancreatic islets from squirrels killed during the weight gain phase had greater glucose-stimulated insulin secretion than those from weight loss phase animals, and adipocytes showed significantly greater glucose incorporation into total lipid in response to insulin. Differences in lipogenesis were not attributable to changes in insulin-binding capacity. Hypothalamic tissue from weight gain phase animals bound more insulin than that from weight loss phase animals. Maximal binding was correlated with pancreatic islet responsiveness and maximal insulin-stimulated lipogenesis. The strong positive correlation between peripheral metabolic events associated with spontaneous alterations in energy balance and the binding kinetics of hypothalamic insulin receptors suggests that insulin may play an important role in the central regulation of body weight.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 975
Author(s):  
Tatiyana Harris ◽  
Raluca Bugescu ◽  
Jaylyn Kelly ◽  
Anna Makela ◽  
Morgan Sotzen ◽  
...  

Lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) neurons expressing the neuropeptide orexin (OX) are implicated in obesity and anxio-depression. However, these neurons release OX as well as a host of other proteins that might contribute to normal physiology and disease states. We hypothesized that delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1), a protein reported to be co-expressed by all OX neurons, contributes to the regulation of energy balance and/or anxio-depression. Consistent with previous reports, we found that all rat OX neurons co-express DLK1. Yet, in mice and humans only a subset of OX neurons co-expressed DLK1. Since human OX-DLK1 distribution is more similar to mice than rats, mice are a comparable model to assess the human physiologic role of DLK1. We therefore used a viral lesion strategy to selectively delete DLK1 within the LHA of adult mice (DLK1Null) to reveal its role in body weight and behavior. Adult-onset DLK1 deletion had no impact on body weight or ingestive behavior. However, DLK1Null mice engaged in more locomotor activity than control mice and had decreased anxiety and depression measured via the elevated plus maze and forced swim tests. These data suggest that DLK1 expression via DLK1-expressing OX neurons primarily contributes to anxio-depression behaviors without impacting body weight.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Fagnant ◽  
Tracey Smith ◽  
Susan McGraw ◽  
Julie Smith ◽  
John Ramsay ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Sustained negative energy balance during military operations contributes to degradations in physical and cognitive performance. Characterizing the diet-related behaviors and nutrition knowledge of Soldiers who self-select higher energy intakes during military operations may identify strategies for promoting energy balance. This study aimed to identify diet-related behaviors of Soldiers who self-selected higher energy intakes during a simulated military operation. Methods Dietary intake and body weight were measured daily in 54 Soldiers (91% male, BMI 25 ± 4 kg/m2, 25 ± 4 yr) participating in a 3-d military exercise. During the exercise, Soldiers were provided with military rations (2787–3003 kcal/d), and in some cases consumed items from home or mobile catering. Food frequency and nutrition knowledge questionnaires were completed before the exercise to assess diet quality by HEI-2010 total score and nutrition knowledge, respectively, and questionnaires assessing eating behaviors during the exercise were completed daily and after the exercise. Associations between diet quality, nutrition knowledge, and diet-related behaviors with 1) daily energy intake (EI) and 2) weight loss (∆BW) were determined by backwards elimination multiple linear regression. Results EI (mean ± SD: 1947 ± 627 kcal/d) and ∆BW (−1.4 ± 1.2%) during the exercise were not correlated. After adjusting for baseline BMI, EI was associated with diet quality (β ± SE: 17 ±9 kcal/d, P = 0.07) and eating frequency (170 ± 86 kcal/d, P = 0.06) and more often intentionally eating foods to improve performance (−389 ± 207 kcal/d, P = 0.07) during the exercise (R2 = 0.27, P = 0.03). In contrast, greater ∆BW was associated only with more often “not allowing myself to eat” certain foods during the exercise (R2 = 0.11; −0.8 ± 0.4%, P = 0.04). Nutrition knowledge was not a significant predictor in either model. Conclusions Findings suggest that self-selected energy intake and body weight loss during military operations may be associated with habitual adherence to healthier dietary patterns and conscious decisions regarding what and how often to eat and/or drink during operations, but not with general nutrition knowledge. Funding Sources U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command; US Army Natick Research, Development, & Engineering Center. Disclaimer: Authors’ views do not reflect official DoD policy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Tao Zhou ◽  
Jiayi Chen ◽  
Yuhang Chen ◽  
Jiayi Xu ◽  
Sijing Liu ◽  
...  

Ligustrum robustum (LR) shows antiobesity effects in animal studies. However, little is known about the effect on human. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of LR intake on weight change in obese women and the role of gut microbiota. Thirty overweight and obese female participants (BMI ≥24 kg/m2) were recruited in the current study. The participants drank LR 10g/d for 12 wks. Their body composition and related biomarkers were assessed. Alterations of the gut microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary outcome was the change in body weight. LR intake resulted in 2.5% weight loss over 12 wks (P<0.01). Change in body fat at 12 wk was -1.77 ± 1.19 kg (P<0.01). In addition, decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (P=0.03), increased richness (the ACE estimator, P<0.01; the Chao1 estimator, P<0.01), and altered representative taxa of the gut microbiota were observed. Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, Bacilli, and Lactobacillales were higher while Ruminococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterobacteriales, Lachnospiraceae, Clostridia, and Clostridiales were lower at 12 wk. Moreover, LR intervention decreased fasting glucose (P<0.01), serum leptin (P<0.01), and IL8 (P=0.02) and increased HOMA-β (P<0.01). LR intervention moderately decreased the body weight in overweight and obese women and such effect might be due to modulation of gut microbiota.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 5165-5165
Author(s):  
Oktawiusz Wiecha ◽  
Witold Miezynski ◽  
Leszek Wojakiewicz ◽  
Anna Zebzda ◽  
Anna Wendrychowicz ◽  
...  

Abstract Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is the main complication after allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation. Immunosuppressive regiments used in prevention and treatment of GVHD are only partially effective, which makes research focused on new possibilities of controlling GVHD necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of complement system in pathogenesis of GvHD. We employed as a model C3 complement factor knock-out animals. C3+/+ and C3−/− mice (C57Bl/6 background, H-2b) were transplanted, one day after ablative TBI with 5×106 BM cells and 4×106 or 10×106 splenocytes isolated from allogeneic C3H. He (H-2k) or from syngeneic animals. Mismatched transplants were performed and chimerism of transplanted mice was confirmed 6 weeks after transplantation by detection of sry gene with PCR. As a control group for hematological and immunological examination after transplantation C3H syngeneic transplantations were also performed. During the experiment mice were weighted and physically examined. In parallel, in some of the animals the histopathological examination and flow cytometric blod analysis was performed. Autopsy was also performed on mice which died during the experiment or which body weight decreased below 65% of the initial weight. The physical (e.g., weight loss, skin desquamation, diarrhea) and the histopathological (e.g., involvement of liver, skin and gut) symptoms of GVHD were observed in almost all mice transplanted with allogeneic cells but not in mice transplanted with syngeneic cells. A characteristic pattern of weight loss was observed: fall on day +7 was followed by return to the initial weight on days +14 to +17 and then another decrease leading either to the death of the animal or to a long time plateau. In the population of C3 deficient mice the weight loss was higher and the return was significantly slower as compared to C3+/+ animals - the average body weight of C3−/− and C3+/+ mice was: 86,6% and 88,2% of initial weight on day +7; 90,9% and 94,6% (p<0,01) on day +10; 101,8% and 99,4% on day +14; 93,4% and 89,4% on day +31; 93,6% and 93,5% on day +100. Skin changes tended to be less severe in C3+/+ animals, difference in the level of skin changes of paws was strongly significant on day +10 (p<0,002). In the fluorocytometric analysis of peripheral blood performed on days +17, +31 and +45 severe lymphopenia affecting both B and T cells was observed. At the same time expression of CD69 activation antigen on CD4+ and CD8+ cells was increased in both C3+/+ and C3−/− allograft recipients as compared to syngeneic control groups. However no significant difference between C3+/+ and C3−/− mice was observed. Interestingly, significant difference in mortality was observed in Kaplan-Meier analysis including 40 C3+/+ and 54 C3−/− mice from 7 long-time experiments lasting more than 1 year the estimates of the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of the survival function were 59, 137 and 367 days for C3+/+ and 47, 118 and 264 days for C3−/− mice (Mantel-Cox test: p<0,01). The difference in better survival in C3+/+ mice as compared to C3−/− mice as well as in dynamics and severity of physical symptoms of the disease suggests that complement system may have a beneficial role in ameliorating consequences of GVHD.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Melby ◽  
Hunter L. Paris ◽  
R. Drew Sayer ◽  
Christopher Bell ◽  
James O. Hill

Long-term maintenance of weight loss requires sustained energy balance at the reduced body weight. This could be attained by coupling low total daily energy intake (TDEI) with low total daily energy expenditure (TDEE; low energy flux), or by pairing high TDEI with high TDEE (high energy flux). Within an environment characterized by high energy dense food and a lack of need for movement, it may be particularly difficult for weight-reduced individuals to maintain energy balance in a low flux state. Most of these individuals will increase body mass due to an inability to sustain the necessary level of food restriction. This increase in TDEI may lead to the re-establishment of high energy flux at or near the original body weight. We propose that following weight loss, increasing physical activity can effectively re-establish a state of high energy flux without significant weight regain. Although the effect of extremely high levels of physical activity on TDEE may be constrained by compensatory reductions in non-activity energy expenditure, moderate increases following weight loss may elevate energy flux and encourage physiological adaptations favorable to weight loss maintenance, including better appetite regulation. It may be time to recognize that few individuals are able to re-establish energy balance at a lower body weight without permanent increases in physical activity. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for more research to better understand the role of energy flux in long-term weight maintenance.


2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éric Doucet ◽  
Jameason Cameron

The literature presented in this paper argues that our limited ability to maintain energy balance in a weight-reduced state is the product of our difficulty in compensating for the weight loss-induced reduction in total energy expenditure. The end result, translated into the overwhelming complexity of preserving long-term weight loss, is presented as being a consequence of compromised appetite control. Given the present-day food landscape and the resultant susceptibility to passive overconsumption, the focus of this review will be on the peripheral (“bottom-up”) signals (leptin, PYY, ghrelin, and GLP-1) and the evidence highlighting their influence on feeding behaviour. As we continue studying paradigms of body mass reduction, specifically the data emerging from patients of bariatric surgery, it is becoming clearer that counter-regulatory adaptations, possibly through down-(leptin, PYY, and GLP-1) or upregulation (ghrelin) of peptides, have an impact on energy balance. In itself, food deprivation influences some of the peptides that ultimately provide the physiological input for the overt expression of feeding behaviour; these peripheral adaptations are expected to serve as feeding cues — cues that, in the end, can serve to compromise the maintenance of energy balance. In a potentially novel intervention to increase compliance to long-term reductions in energy intake, it is proposed that manipulating the pattern of food intake to favourably alter the profile of gastrointestinal peptides would lead to better dietary control.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tien S. Dong ◽  
Kayti Luu ◽  
Venu Lagishetty ◽  
Farzaneh Sedighian ◽  
Shih-Lung Woo ◽  
...  

Background: The microbiome has been shown in pre-clinical and epidemiological studies to be important in both the development and treatment of obesity and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, few studies have examined the role of the microbiome in the clinical response to calorie restriction. To explore this area, we performed a prospective study examining the association of the intestinal microbiome with weight loss and change in hepatic steatosis on a calorie-restricted diet.Methods: A prospective dietary intervention study of 80 overweight and obese participants was performed at the Greater West Los Angeles Veterans Affair Hospital. Patients were placed on a macronutrient standardized diet for 16 weeks, including 14 weeks of calorie restriction (500 calorie deficit). Body composition analysis by impedance, plasma lipid measurements, and ultrasound elastography to measure hepatic steatosis were performed at baseline and week 16. Intestinal microbiome composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A per protocol analysis was performed on all subjects completing the trial (n = 46).Results: Study completers showed significant reduction in weight, body mass index, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. Subjects who lost at least 5% of their body weight had significantly greater reduction in serum triglyceride and hepatic steatosis than those with &lt;5% body weight loss. Enterococcus and Klebsiella were reduced at the end of the trial while Coprococcus and Collinsella were increased. There were also significant baseline microbiome differences between patients who had at least 5% weight loss as compared to those that did not. Lachnoclostridium was positively associated with hepatic steatosis and Actinomyces was positively associated with hepatic steatosis and weight. Baseline microbiome profiles were able to predict which patients lost at least 5% of their body weight with an AUROC of 0.80.Conclusion: Calorie restriction alters the intestinal microbiome and improves hepatic steatosis in those who experience significant weight loss. Baseline microbiome differences predict weight loss on a calorie–restricted diet and are associated with improvement in hepatic steatosis, suggesting a role of the gut microbiome in mediating the clinical response to calorie restriction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document