Repository logo
 

Proopiomelanocortin neuron manipulation in mouse models of energy balance disorders

dc.contributor.authorDaimon, Caitlin Mieko, author
dc.contributor.authorHentges, Shane, advisor
dc.contributor.authorClay, Colin, committee member
dc.contributor.authorMyers, Brent, committee member
dc.contributor.authorVandewoude, Susan, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2022-01-07T11:30:56Z
dc.date.available2022-01-07T11:30:56Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractProopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus are critical regulators of energy balance. Highly conserved amongst mammalian species, POMC neurons release peptide transmitters to help an organism maintain appropriate levels of food intake and bodyweight by inhibiting feeding and facilitating metabolism of consumed nutrients. Disruptions in POMC signaling are thought to underlie aspects of energy balance disorders. There are two kinds of energy balance disorders: those of positive energy balance, which includes diseases like obesity, and those of negative energy balance, which includes eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN). Given that POMC neurons are believed to be dysregulated in energy balance disorders, treatment strategies for these disorders have focused on POMC neurons or their targets. The goal of the studies discussed herein was to determine whether manipulation of POMC neurons could improve pathophysiological alterations in bodyweight and food intake in mouse models of energy balance disorders. Mouse models of AN and obesity were used in the current studies. AN was mimicked in the mouse via the well-validated activity-based anorexia (ABA) behavioral paradigm. The results shown in chapters 2 and 3 indicate that POMC neurons are selectively involved in generating food anticipatory activity (FAA) in mice undergoing ABA as disruption of either the POMC peptide product β-endorphin or inhibition of the entire POMC neuron resulted in decreased FAA. As FAA is the primary output of the food entrainable oscillator (FEO), the circadian clock that allows an organism to anticipate the daily arrival of meals, these results suggest that POMC neurons via the peptide product β-endorphin are possibly involved in the expression of the FEO. As the identity of the FEO has yet to be determined, future studies should further characterize the contribution of β-endorphin and POMC neurons to the FEO. To determine whether manipulation of POMC neurons is beneficial in a mouse model of obesity, mice fed an obesogenic diet were subjected to chronic POMC neuron stimulation for one month. The unexpected finding that sustained stimulation leads to weight gain as opposed to weight loss indicates that chronic stimulation of POMC neurons may not be a viable option for weight loss, at least under the dosing scheme used in the current study. How POMC neurons adapt to chronic stimulation remains unknown and should be the focus of future work.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierDaimon_colostate_0053A_16917.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/234297
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectbodyweight
dc.subjectfood intake
dc.subjectenergy balance disorders
dc.subjectanorexia nervosa
dc.subjectobesity
dc.titleProopiomelanocortin neuron manipulation in mouse models of energy balance disorders
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineBiomedical Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Daimon_colostate_0053A_16917.pdf
Size:
1.93 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format