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Taurine enhances the anorexigenic effects of insulin in the hypothalamus of rats

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Abstract

Taurine is known to modulate a number of metabolic parameters such as insulin secretion and action and blood cholesterol levels. Recent data have suggested that taurine can also reduce body adiposity in C. elegans and in rodents. Since body adiposity is mostly regulated by insulin-responsive hypothalamic neurons involved in the control of feeding and thermogenesis, we hypothesized that some of the activity of taurine in the control of body fat would be exerted through a direct action in the hypothalamus. Here, we show that the intracerebroventricular injection of an acute dose of taurine reduces food intake and locomotor activity, and activates signal transduction through the Akt/FOXO1, JAK2/STAT3 and mTOR/AMPK/ACC signaling pathways. These effects are accompanied by the modulation of expression of NPY. In addition, taurine can enhance the anorexigenic action of insulin. Thus, the aminoacid, taurine, exerts a potent anorexigenic action in the hypothalamus and enhances the effect of insulin on the control of food intake.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

Acetyl CoA carboxylase

AgRP:

Agouti-related peptide

Akt:

Protein kinase B

AMPK:

Adenosine monophosphate activated kinase

CART:

Cocaine and amphetamine related transcript

FOXO1:

Forkhead box protein O1

JAK2:

Janus kinase 2

mTOR:

Mammalian target of rapamycin

NPY:

Neuropeptide Y

PAGE:

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase

PMSF:

Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride

POMC:

Proopiomelanocortin

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

STAT3:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

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Acknowledgments

Grants for these studies were provided by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The Laboratory of Cell Signaling is a member of the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Obesidade e Diabetes and also a member of the Gastrocentro–University of Campinas. We thank Dr. N. Conran for English grammar review and Mr. G. Ferraz and Mr. M. Cruz for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, DCM-FCM UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, 13084 970, Brazil

    Carina S. Solon, Daniel Franci, Letícia M. Ignacio-Souza, Talita Romanatto, Erika A. Roman, Ana P. Arruda, Joseane Morari, Adriana S. Torsoni & Licio A. Velloso

  2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

    Everardo M. Carneiro

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  1. Carina S. Solon
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  2. Daniel Franci
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  3. Letícia M. Ignacio-Souza
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  4. Talita Romanatto
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  5. Erika A. Roman
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  6. Ana P. Arruda
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  7. Joseane Morari
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  9. Everardo M. Carneiro
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  10. Licio A. Velloso
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Correspondence to Licio A. Velloso.

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Solon, C.S., Franci, D., Ignacio-Souza, L.M. et al. Taurine enhances the anorexigenic effects of insulin in the hypothalamus of rats. Amino Acids 42, 2403–2410 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-1045-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-1045-5

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