EFFECT OF PERIPHERAL 2-DG ON OPIOID AND NEUROPEPTIDE-Y GENE-EXPRESSION

It is well known that 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) blocks intracellular ut ilization of glucose and increases food intake. The aim of the present study was to determine whether administration of 2-DG alters gene exp ression of the orexigenic peptides, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and endogenou s opioids, in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). Male Spra gue-Dawley rats were injected peripherally (i.p.) with 2-DG (200 or 40 0 mg/kg body weight) and were sacrificed at 2 or 6 h post injection. H alf of the animals were given ad libitum access to food whereas the ot her half of the animals were food-deprived. 2-DG increased food intake fourfold compared to saline injected animals, but did not affect NPY mRNA levels after 2 h. Messenger RNA levels of ProDynorphin (proDYN), but not pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) nor proEnkephalin (proENK) were si gnificantly decreased 2 h after 2-DG injection. Administration of 400 mg/kg of 2-DG increased mRNA levels of NPY in the arcuate nucleus afte r six h, but only in those animals not receiving food. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science B.V.