Published online Jun 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6897
Revised: January 5, 2014
Accepted: April 1, 2014
Published online: June 14, 2014
Processing time: 186 Days and 18.6 Hours
AIM: To determine the expression levels of gastrointestinal nesfatin-1 in ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH)-lesioned (obese) and ventrolateral hypothalamic nucleus (VLH)-lesioned (lean) rats that exhibit an imbalance in their energy metabolism and gastric mobility.
METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a VMH-lesioned group, a VLH-lesioned group, and their respective sham-operated groups. The animals had free access to food and water, and their diets and weights were monitored after surgery. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining were used to analyse the levels of NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 immunoreactive (IR) cells in the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and colon, respectively. Gastric emptying was also assessed using a modified phenol red-methylcellulose recovery method.
RESULTS: The VMH-lesioned rats fed normal chow exhibited markedly greater food intake and body weight gain, whereas the VLH-lesioned rats exhibited markedly lower food intake and body weight gain. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 IR cells were localised in the lower third and middle portion of the gastric mucosal gland and in the submucous layer of the enteric tract. Compared with their respective controls, gastric emptying was enhanced in the VMH-lesioned rats (85.94% ± 2.27%), whereas the VLH lesions exhibited inhibitory effects on gastric emptying (29.12% ± 1.62%). In the VMH-lesioned rats, the levels of NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 protein were significantly increased in the stomach and duodenum and reduced in the small intestine. In addition, the levels of NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 protein in the VLH-lesioned rats were decreased in the stomach, duodenum, and small intestine.
CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that nesfatin-1 level in the stomach and duodenum is positively correlated with body mass. Additionally, there is a positive relationship between gastric emptying and body mass. The results of this study indicate that gastrointestinal nesfatin-1 may play a significant role in gastric mobility and energy homeostasis.
Core tip: We report that nesfatin-1 level in the stomach and duodenum is positively correlated with body mass. To our knowledge, this is the first time to detect the nesfatin-1 level in the duodenum, small intestine and colon with traditional obese and lean subjects induced by nuclei lesions. Additionally, the data of gastric nefatin-1 expression are an objective supplement to the previous report. Notably, we also show a positive relationship between gastric emptying and body mass. Further, it is possible that the expression level of gastrointestinal nesfatin-1 may be used to diagnose the gastric mobility disorder and metabolism disturbance.