Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020505 (hyperphagia)
 6,116 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Feeding animals cafeteria diets causes increased sympathetic activity to brown adipose tissue and this is believed to be responsible for the concomitant activation of thermogenesis. Because chronic catecholamine stimulation in other systems leads to a desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptors, we examined lipolysis and cAMP production in brown adipocytes of hamsters eating cafeteria diets for evidence of diminished beta-adrenergic responses. Basal cAMP levels were similar in chow- and cafeteria-fed hamsters. However, adipocytes from overfed animals formed less cAMP in response to isoproterenol than those of control animals. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was similarly decreased in membrane preparations from cafeteria-fed hamsters. However, when the diterpene forskolin was used, equal amounts of cAMP were formed in cells and membrane preparations from control and overfed animals. In contrast to the reduced responses of the cAMP system to isoproterenol stimulation observed in overfed hamsters, isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis was greater in cells from overfed animals than in cells from control animals. These results are consistent with a desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system in brown adipocytes occurring during chronic hyperphagia. Because eating cafeteria diets has been reported to increase sympathetic activity to brown fat depots, the apparent desensitization of brown adipocytes observed in this study may result from a persistent stimulation of the brown fat with norepinephrine in vivo. Our data also suggest the existence of mechanisms that preserve lipolysis in the face of low cAMP levels.
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PMID:cAMP metabolism and lipolysis in brown adipocytes of hamsters consuming a cafeteria diet. 298 83

The metabolic properties of brown adipose tissue (BAT), liver, and skeletal muscles were compared in lean and obese diabetic SHR/N-cp rats (a new model of type II diabetes) to test whether the severe insulin resistance of obese animals is specifically associated with a thermogenic defect in BAT. The respiratory response of brown adipocytes to norepinephrine and to agents bypassing the adenylate cyclase complex (dibutyryl cyclic AMP and palmitate) was decreased by two-thirds in obese rats, thereby indicating the presence of a major postreceptor defect. Significantly, total BAT cytochrome oxidase activity, uncoupling protein content, and mitochondrial guanosine 5'-diphosphate binding (3 indexes of BAT thermogenic capacity) were also decreased by two-thirds. The specific activities of these parameters expressed per total BAT mitochondrial protein were not altered either. This indicates that the total number of mitochondria per cell is decreased in BAT of obese rats. In contrast, total tissue cytochrome oxidase activity, protein content, and DNA content all increased by two to three times in the liver of obese SHR/N-cp rats, but these parameters remained unchanged in skeletal muscles (vastus lateralis and soleus). Such a remarkable liver hypertrophy may have occurred as a consequence of the persistent hyperphagia-hyperinsulinemia of obese rats that induced a hyperplasia and/or a hepatocyte polyploidization. This observation together with the fact that daily energy expenditure associated with food intake was markedly increased in obese rats (representing as much as 25% of the total energy expenditure) strongly suggests that the liver plays a major role in energy balance in these animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Specific decrease of mitochondrial thermogenic capacity in brown adipose tissue of obese SHR/N-cp rats. 827 28

Obesity is a common feature of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) type 1a, but is usually associated with short stature. We describe two children referred because of hyperphagia and excessive weight gain from early infancy. Tall stature in both children initially confounded the diagnosis of PHP, but on follow-up both children developed the typical hormonal abnormalities and Case 2 developed typical skeletal features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. PHP type 1a is caused by germline loss of function mutations in the alpha subunit of GS, the ubiquitously expressed G protein that couples many hormone receptors to the adenylate cyclase second messenger system. Recent evidence suggest that the hypothalamic GS protein coupled melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) may mediate the central effects of leptin on inhibition of satiety. Similar patterns of infancy onset hyperphagia, excessive weight gain and tall stature are seen in subjects with congenital leptin deficiency and in subjects with MC4R mutations. We suggest that the genetic mutations in GSalpha which underlie PHP type 1a may also directly result in severe obesity. This diagnosis should be considered in any child with a history of hyperphagia and early onset morbid obesity.
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PMID:Pseudohypoparathyroidism--another monogenic obesity syndrome. 1071 39

Dysregulation of the dopamine system is linked to various aberrant behaviors, including addiction, compulsive exercise, and hyperphagia leading to obesity. The goal of the present experiments was to determine how dopamine contributes to the expression of opposing phenotypes, excessive exercise and obesity. We hypothesized that similar alterations in dopamine and dopamine-related gene expression may underly obesity and excessive exercise, as competing traits for central reward pathways. Moreover, we hypothesized that selective breeding for high levels of exercise or obesity may have influenced genetic variation controlling these pathways, manifesting as opposing complex traits. Dopamine, dopamine-related peptide concentrations, and gene expression were evaluated in dorsal striatum (DS) and nucleus accumbens (NA) of mice from lines selectively bred for high rates of wheel running (HR) or obesity (M16), and the non-selected ICR strain from which these lines were derived. HPLC analysis showed significantly greater neurotransmitter concentrations in DS and NA of HR mice compared to M16 and ICR. Microarray analysis showed significant gene expression differences between HR and M16 compared to ICR in both brain areas, with changes revealed throughout the dopamine pathway including D1 and D2 receptors, associated G-proteins (e.g., Golf), and adenylate cyclase (e.g., Adcy5). The results suggest that similar modifications within the dopamine system may contribute to the expression of opposite phenotypes in mice, demonstrating that alterations within central reward pathways can contribute to both obesity and excessive exercise.
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PMID:Dopaminergic dysregulation in mice selectively bred for excessive exercise or obesity. 2015 88

Hyperphagia and weight gain to acquire energy stores for development and growth of the fetus and to prepare for the demands of lactation are important adaptations to support a healthy pregnancy. As a consequence, hypothalamic leptin resistance develops to enable maintenance of a positive energy state. During pregnancy there is a decrease in leptin receptor expression and reduced leptin-induced phospho signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN), suggesting that the VMN is a key site of pregnancy-induced modification in the control of energy homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate expression levels of known gene targets, which are involved in metabolic regulation and glucosensing, within the VMN during pregnancy. Using in situ hybridization, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activated polypeptide (Pacap), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), and glucokinase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were localized in the hypothalamus of nonpregnant and day 14 pregnant rats, then expression levels were compared by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using laser capture microdissection of the VMN and arcuate nucleus. Despite significantly elevated plasma leptin and insulin concentrations, and lower blood glucose levels, during pregnancy, no significant changes in gene expression of Pacap, Bdnf, or glucokinase were detected between nonpregnant and day 14 pregnant groups. These data suggest that loss of leptin and insulin sensitivity in the VMN might allow gene expression to be maintained at normal/control levels in this nucleus, despite marked changes in the levels of these important regulatory hormones. These data provide further evidence for development of leptin resistance in the VMN as an adaptive response during pregnancy.
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PMID:Maintained expression of genes associated with metabolism in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus despite development of leptin resistance during pregnancy in the rat. 2440 Jan 63