Effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone on mitochondrial energy metabolism in rats of different age-groups

Hypothalamic alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone ( α-MSH) is a key catabolic mediator of energy homeostasis. Its anorexigenic and hypermetabolic effects show characteristic age-related alterations that may be part of the mechanism of middle-aged obesity and geriatric anorexia/cachexia seen in humans and other mammals. We aimed to investigate the ro le of α-MSH in mitochondrial energy metabolism during the course of aging in a rodent model.To determine the role of α-MSH in mitochondrial energy metabolism in muscle, we administered intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of α-MSH for 7-days to different age-groups of male Wistar rats.

Source: Neuropeptides - August 26, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ren é G. Feichtinger, Erika Pétervári, Michaela Zopf, Silvia Vidali, Sepideh Aminzadeh-Gohari, Johannes A. Mayr, Barbara Kofler, Márta Balaskó Source Type: research