Cited by 332Regulation of Appetite and ObesityNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Evidence that paraventricular nucleus oxytocin neurons link hypothalamic leptin action to caudal brain stem nuclei controlling meal size

Blevins, James E., Schwartz, Michael W., Baskin, Denis G.·2004·American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

Abstract

Hindbrain projections of oxytocin neurons in the parvocellular paraventricular nucleus (pPVN) are hypothesized to transmit leptin signaling from the hypothalamus to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), where satiety signals from the gastrointestinal tract are received. Using immunocytochemistry, we found that an anorectic dose of leptin administered into the third ventricle (3V) increased twofold the number of pPVN oxytocin neurons that expressed Fos. Injections of fluorescent cholera toxin B into the NTS labeled a subset of pPVN oxytocin neurons that expressed Fos in response to 3V leptin. Moreover, 3V administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist, [d-(CH2)5,Tyr(Me)2,Orn8]-vasotocin (OVT), attenuated the effect of leptin on food intake over a 0.5- to 4-h period (P < 0.05). Furthermore, to determine whether oxytocin contributes to leptin's potentiation of Fos activation within NTS neurons in response to CCK, we counted the number of Fos-positive neurons in the medial NTS (mNTS) after 3V administration of OVT before 3V leptin and intraperitoneal CCK-8 administration. OVT resulted in a significant 37% decrease (P < 0.05) in the potentiating effect of leptin on CCK activation of mNTS neuronal Fos expression. Furthermore, 4V OVT stimulated 2-h food intake by 43% (P < 0.01), whereas 3V OVT at the same dose was ineffective. These findings suggest that release of oxytocin from a descending pPVN-to-NTS pathway contributes to leptin's attenuation of food intake by a mechanism that involves the activation of pPVN oxytocin neurons by leptin, resulting in increased sensitivity of NTS neurons to satiety signals.

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Crossref · 10.1152/ajpregu.00604.2003

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  • Several food motivation pathways, including those involving leptin, alpha-MSH and AgRP, converge on oxytocin neurons.

    “Several food motivation pathways, including those involving leptin, alpha-MSH and AgRP, converge on oxytocin neurons(20, 21, 22).”

    From Oxytocin reduces caloric intake in men (2015) · cites this paper as [21]

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Authors
Blevins, J. E., Schwartz, M. W., & Baskin, D. G.
Affiliations
  • VA Puget Sound Health Care System (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
Venue
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Published
2004-07
Volume
287
Issue
1
Pages
R87-R96
ISSN
  • 0363-6119 (ISSN-L)
  • 1522-1490
OpenAlex
W2111100731
Cited by
332
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 17
FWCI
4.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (2r01dk012829-36)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK 12829, R01DK052989, DK-52989, DK-17047, P30DK017047)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-32273)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
oxytocin, paraventricular nucleus, leptin, nucleus tractus solitarius, meal size, food intake regulation, satiety signals, cholecystokinin, Fos expression, arginine vasotocin, third ventricle
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Stem, Cholecystokinin, Eating, Gene Expression Regulation, Immunohistochemistry, Injections, Intraventricular, Male, Neurons, Oxytocin, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus, Satiety Response, Stereotaxic Techniques, Signal Transduction, Genes, fos, Rats, Wistar, Solitary Nucleus, Receptors, Oxytocin, Leptin, Rats

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