ACTIONS OF ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR FRAGMENTS ON FOOD-INTAKE IN RATS

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) has suppressive effects on food intake, In the present study, the effect of aFGF fragments on food in take were investigated in rats. Infusion of a carboxyl-terminal fragme nt of aFGF, aFGF-(114-140), did not affect food intake, whereas an ami no-terminal fragment of aFGF, aFGF-(1-15), was significantly inhibitor y, Other amino-terminal fragments, aFGF-(1-20), aFGF-(1-29) and aFGF-( 9-29), did not affect food intake, However, [Ala(16)]aFGF-(1-29) and [ Ser(16)]aFGF-(1-29) in which the cysteine residue at position 16 was r eplaced with alanine and serine, respectively, had significant suppres sive effects on food intake. Infusion of a functional antagonist for F GF receptor, anti-FGFR-1 antibody, into the lateral hypothalamus (LHA) significantly increased food intake, The results suggest that: the am ino-terminal portion of aFGF is active in food intake suppression; the replacement of cysteine residue by alanine or serine is important in some amino-terminal aFGF fragments; and the LHA is involved in feeding suppression actions by aFGF and some fragments.