Effects of adrenalectomy on AGRP, POMC, NPY and CART gene expression in the basal hypothalamus of fed and fasted rats

Glucocorticoids regulate body energy balance through both peripheral and central mechanisms. In order to understand the central mechanisms that mediate these effects of glucocorticoids we studied the effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) and food deprivation on the expression of four neuropeptide genes (measured by S1 nuclease protection assay) in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), which are known to regulate energy balance: pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), agouti-related peptide (AGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART). Adult male rats were ADX or sham operated (SHAM), and studied 1-2 weeks later. In the first study effects of ADX and corticosterone replacement on POMC and AGRP expression were determined. ADX decreased POMC and AGRP gene expression in the MBH by 27 and 38%, respectively, compared to SHAM rats. Corticosterone treatment increased the expression of POMC by 87% and AGRP by 45% in ADX rats. The second study was designed to determine if glucocorticoids are necessary for the fasting induced changes in POMC, AGRP, NPY and CART in the MBH. ADX caused a 20-30% decrease in the expression of all four neuropeptide genes in the MBH. As expected, fasting suppressed POMC and CART expression and increased AGRP and NPY expression. The fasting-induced increases in AGRP and NPY persisted after ADX but no further significant decreases in POMC or CART were noted after fasting in ADX rats. Plasma leptin and insulin declined significantly after ADX and increased with corticosterone replacement; both leptin and insulin declined further in fasted, ADX animals. In conclusion, ADX decreases both anorexigenic, POMC and CART, and orexigenic, AGRP and NPY, neuropeptide gene expression in the MBH. AGRP and NPY decrease after ADX despite the fall in plasma leptin and insulin concentrations which in other situations would increase these neuropeptides. Furthermore, glucocorticoids are not required for fasting-induced upregulation of AGRP and NPY expression.