Abstract

Peripheral amylin inhibits food intake via activation of the area postrema (AP). 59% of amylin-activated AP neurons are noradrenergic (NA), i.e., they express dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Here, we wanted to testwhether APNAneuronsmediate amylin’s anorectic effect.We performed a specific lesion of AP NA neurons using a saporin conjugated to an antibody against DBH (DSAP). IgG-saporin was used in sham controls. After 2–3 weeks necessary for neuronal
degeneration, we tested the rats for the effect of amylin (5
or 20_g/kg BW, s.c.) to reduce food intake. In a terminal experiment, the rats received amylin (20_g/kg) or saline; brain sections with the AP and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) were stained for DBH to assess lesion success and for c-Fos expression to evaluate amylin-induced neuronal activation. DBH staining revealed that 10 DSAP-injected rats had NA lesion equal to or above 50%,
defined as successful; 6 had lesions below 50%. Daily food intake and body weight gain did not differ between lesioned and sham groups. Amylin-induced anorexia was observed in sham rats with both amylin doses, while rats with a successful lesion had no significant reduction in eating after either amylin dose. Rats with lesions below 50% only ate less after the higher amylin dose. In contrast to
sham-lesioned animals, successfully NA-lesioned rats did not show amylin-induced c-Fos expression in the AP and NTS. These results provide first evidence for a functional role of NA neurons in the AP in the mediation of amylin’s anorectic effect.