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Central, but not peripheral application of motilin increases c-Fos expression in hypothalamic nuclei in the rat brain

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Abstract

Previous immunocytochemical studies have shown the presence of motilin-immunoreactive neurons in specific brain areas of rats and autoradiographic studies in rabbits demonstrated motilin-binding sites in the central nervous system as well. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the anatomical localisation and neurochemical features of neurons activated by central administration of motilin (Mo) in rats. One week after cannulation, an intracerebroventricular injection of Mo (ICV, 3 μg/6 μl 0.9% saline) was given. For comparative purposes, a group of animals received an intravenous injection of motilin (IV, 9 μg/300 μl 0.9% saline) or an equal volume of saline. Neuronal excitation was assessed by c-Fos immunocytochemistry and combined with immunostaining for neurotransmitter markers. In contrast to the IV motilin-treated animals, the ICV motilin-treated animals displayed a significant increase in c-Fos expression in the supraoptic nuclei (SO) and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus (PVH). At the level of the dorsomedial, ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nuclei, ICV administration of motilin did not induce changes in c-Fos expression. In addition, the cerebellum did not show c-Fos expression after ICV motilin administration either. These findings might suggest distinct pathways and actions of centrally released and systemic motilin, but, particularly in rodents, do not rule out the possibility that the effects seen in the SO and PVH after ICV application are aspecific in nature. At present, we cannot exclude the fact that the results observed with motilin in rodents are due to cross-interaction with other related (e.g. ghrelin) or not yet identified receptors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Dirk Adriaensen & Jean-Pierre Timmermans

  2. Medical College, University of Qingdao, 38 Dengzhou Road, 266021, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

    Mei Wu & Ming Tang

  3. Gastrointestinal Hormone Lab, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 701, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Inge Depoortere & Theo L. Peeters

Authors
  1. Mei Wu
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  2. Ming Tang
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  3. Dirk Adriaensen
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  4. Inge Depoortere
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  5. Theo L. Peeters
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  6. Jean-Pierre Timmermans
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Correspondence to Jean-Pierre Timmermans.

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Wu, M., Tang, M., Adriaensen, D. et al. Central, but not peripheral application of motilin increases c-Fos expression in hypothalamic nuclei in the rat brain. Histochem Cell Biol 123, 139–145 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-005-0763-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-005-0763-8

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