Electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus produce an obesity syndrome in experimental animals characterized by behavioural and metabolic disturbances. Historically, theories of VMH obesity have considered a single disturbance, either behavioural or metabolic, to be the primary effect of the lesion, which in turn causes other components of the syndrome. An alternative view suggests that VMH lesions simultaneously disturb both behavioural and metabolic mechanisms due to the anatomical proximity of these mechanisms in the hypothalamus. Therefore, more discrete lesions in the VMH may produce some syndrome components but not others. This thesis presents a series of experiments that test this "dissociative" perspective of the VMH obesity syndrome. First, rats having different hypothalamic ablations were compared on: caloric intakes on a series of test diets, body weight changes, and body fat. Bilateral parafornical hypothalamic knife cuts (PFKC) that spared the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN), produced overeating and weight gain characteristic of VMH lesions. However, measurement of percentage body fat (i.e. level of obesity) indicated that PFKC rats were less obese than VMH rats, even though PFKC lesions produced a greater hyperphagia and weight gain than VMH lesions. In contrast, lesions restricted to VMN produced obesity, but did not produce hyperphagia or weight gain. Since parafornical knife cuts produced a greater hyperphagia than VMH lesions, it is possible that VMN damage actually reduces caloric intake in VMH rats. To test this hypothesis, the effects of VMH, PFKC, and combined PFKC/VMN lesions on caloric intake and body weight were compared. PFKC and VMH lesions produced hyperphagia and weight gain. However, knife cuts were not significantly more effective than VMH lesions for producing these disturbances in this experiment. Therefore, PFKC lesions do not invariably produce a greater hyperphagia than VMH lesions. Furthermore, VMN lesions had no effect on the level of overeating or weight gain in rats bearing PFKC lesions. Therefore, damage to VMN does not reduce the hyperphagia produced by PFKC lesions. Finally, the effects of these different hypothalamic manipulations on metabolic measures were determined. To eliminate the confound of hyperphagia on metabolic variables, all lesion rats were fed a daily food ration sufficient to maintain their body weight at the level of controls. VMH and PFKC lesions resulted in elevated parasympathetic tone, indicated by elevated basal gastric acid secretion. VMN lesions did not affect gastric acid secretion. In contrast, only VMH and VMN lesions produced obesity when overeating was prevented. PFKC rats did not become obese. These experiments demonstrate that separate hypothalamic mechanisms underly the hyperphagia and obesity characteristic of VMH lesions. Furthermore, different mechanisms underly obesity and elevated parasympathetic tone following VMH lesions. Therefore, these observations support a dissociative model of the VMH obesity syndrome. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A glândula pineal sintetiza o hormônio melatonina à noite e este regula diversos sistemas fisiológicos, adaptando-os às exigências de cada momento do dia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de analisar o perfil noturno da síntese de melatonina na glândula pineal de ratos, em diferentes idades, tratados com glutamato monossódico (MSG) no período neonatal. Ratos Wistar, machos e fêmeas, receberam injeções de MSG (4mg/g/dia) ou de solução salina (0,9%) do 2º ao 8º dia pós-natal. Foram avaliados o peso corporal e dos tecidos adiposos, o comprimento naso-anal,o perfil noturno da síntese de melatonina e da atividade da enzima AANAT, o GTT e o ITT. O MSG induziu um aumento no peso dos tecidos adiposos, sem aumento do peso corporal. Não foi observada hiperglicemia, nem intolerância à glicose, mas sim resistência insulínica. A ritmicidade circadiana da melatonina e da AANAT foi preservada, mas houve um aumento de ambos no ZT 15. As alterações na síntese de melatonina parecem decorrer das lesões hipotalâmicas provocadas pelo MSG, pela redução do NPY, aumento da insulina ou da noradrenalina. / The pineal gland synthesizes melatonin exclusively at night. Melatonin is a temporal synchronizer of several physiological functions, adapting the organism to the diurnal environmental changes. The purpose of this work was to analyze the effects of neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on the nocturnal profile of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland. Wistar rats, males and females, were injected neonatally with MSG (4mg/g/day) or saline solution (0.9%) from the 2nd to 8th post-natal day. Body weight and adipose tissue weight, naso-anal length, nocturnal melatonin and AANAT activity profiles, GTT and ITT were analyzed. MSG induced a great increase in adipose depots without increase in body weight. It did not induce hyperglycemia nor glucose intolerance, but induced insulin resistance. Circadian rhythmicity of melatonin synthesis and AANAT activity was not altered, but there was an increase at ZT 15 in both. It seems that melatonin synthesis changes could be related to hypothalamic lesions, through a reduction in NPY or insulin/norepinephrine elevation.

Numerous studies have suggested rapid weight gain following diagnosis and initial treatment of childhood craniopharyngioma (CP) due to the damage sustained by the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic lesions formed by the treatment of the tumor and/or by invasiveness of the tumor itself are known to cause intractable weight gain, known as hypothalamic obesity. In contrast, hypothalamic obesity manifested in pediatric low-grade glioma (PLGG) patients is not as prominently addressed in literature; likely due to the expansive set of histological tumor subtypes that makes generalization challenging. Specifically, there is a lack of analysis that examines the difference in treatment, endocrinopathies, and weight gain between CP and PLGG patients. The purpose of this study was to compare hypothalamic damage in subjects diagnosed with pediatric hypothalamic low-grade glioma versus subjects diagnosed with childhood craniopharyngioma. We hypothesized that CP patients will have a more rapid post diagnosis weight gain and a greater degree of obesity compared with PLGG patients due to the more invasive nature of the tumor and the aggressive surgical treatments involved. We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records of patients who received a diagnosis of childhood craniopharyngioma or pediatric low-grade glioma at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between 1980 and 2009. We identified 45 patients, who met criteria for evaluation, 28 were previously diagnosed with childhood craniopharyngioma and 17 were diagnosed with hypothalamic pediatric low-grade glioma. We analyzed the impact of treatment, the presence of endocrinopathies, and weight gain after diagnosis. We concluded that there was no statistically significant difference in the rate or magnitude of post diagnosis weight gain, disproving our initial hypotheses.

A glândula pineal sintetiza o hormônio melatonina à noite e este regula diversos sistemas fisiológicos, adaptando-os às exigências de cada momento do dia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de analisar o perfil noturno da síntese de melatonina na glândula pineal de ratos, em diferentes idades, tratados com glutamato monossódico (MSG) no período neonatal. Ratos Wistar, machos e fêmeas, receberam injeções de MSG (4mg/g/dia) ou de solução salina (0,9%) do 2º ao 8º dia pós-natal. Foram avaliados o peso corporal e dos tecidos adiposos, o comprimento naso-anal,o perfil noturno da síntese de melatonina e da atividade da enzima AANAT, o GTT e o ITT. O MSG induziu um aumento no peso dos tecidos adiposos, sem aumento do peso corporal. Não foi observada hiperglicemia, nem intolerância à glicose, mas sim resistência insulínica. A ritmicidade circadiana da melatonina e da AANAT foi preservada, mas houve um aumento de ambos no ZT 15. As alterações na síntese de melatonina parecem decorrer das lesões hipotalâmicas provocadas pelo MSG, pela redução do NPY, aumento da insulina ou da noradrenalina. / The pineal gland synthesizes melatonin exclusively at night. Melatonin is a temporal synchronizer of several physiological functions, adapting the organism to the diurnal environmental changes. The purpose of this work was to analyze the effects of neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on the nocturnal profile of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland. Wistar rats, males and females, were injected neonatally with MSG (4mg/g/day) or saline solution (0.9%) from the 2nd to 8th post-natal day. Body weight and adipose tissue weight, naso-anal length, nocturnal melatonin and AANAT activity profiles, GTT and ITT were analyzed. MSG induced a great increase in adipose depots without increase in body weight. It did not induce hyperglycemia nor glucose intolerance, but induced insulin resistance. Circadian rhythmicity of melatonin synthesis and AANAT activity was not altered, but there was an increase at ZT 15 in both. It seems that melatonin synthesis changes could be related to hypothalamic lesions, through a reduction in NPY or insulin/norepinephrine elevation.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:17:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_ final - ENTREGA.pdf: 2247856 bytes, checksum: 146d4be3628d74a867ddf4826f6f6e8a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Purpose: Herein we evaluated the expression of genes and protein involved with hepatic lipids pathway and investigate whether the improvement on glucose homeostasis is associated with modifications in the islets morphology in HyO rats submitted to duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB). Methods: During the first 5 days of life, male newborn Wistar rats received a subcutaneous injection of monosodium glutamate [4 g/kg body weight (BW), hypothalamic obesity (HyO) group], or saline (CTL group). At 90 days of age, HyO rats were submitted to DJB or sham operations forming HyO DJB and HyO Sham group, respectively. Two months after DJB, serum parameters, expression of genes and protein in the liver and islets morphology were verified. Results: Although DJB operation normalized serum triglycerides (TG) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration compared to HyO Sham rats, HyO DJB rats did not alter TG liver content as well as, the expression of hepatic genes and protein involved with lipids metabolism. DJB operation normalized insulinemia and insulin resistance and restored β-cell secretion in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose independently of weight loss. In addition, HyO DJB rats presented a reduction in total islets and β-cell area (pancreas area percentage) and in islets cells proliferation (verified by the number of nucleus stained by Ki67 protein - a cellular marker for proliferation). Conclusions: Although DJB not affect liver lipids metabolism in HyO rats two months after surgery, the improvement on glucose homeostasis could be associated with modifications in islets morphology and proliferation. / Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão de genes e proteínas envolvidos com a via lipídica hepática e investigar se a melhoria na homeostase glicêmica está associada a alterações na morfologia das ilhotas em ratos MSG submetidos à derivação duodeno-jejunal (DDJ). Métodos: Durante os primeiros 5 dias de vida, ratos Wistar recém-nascidos receberam injeções subcutâneas de glutamato monossódico [4 g / kg de peso corporal (BW), grupo MSG], ou solução salina (grupo CTL). Aos 90 dias de idade, os animais MSG foram submetidos à DDJ ou a falsa operação, formando os grupos MSG-DDJ e MSG-FO, respectivamente. Dois após a cirurgia, foram avaliados os parâmetros séricos, a expressão de genes e proteínas do fígado e morfologia das ilhotas pancreáticas. Resultados: A cirurgia de DDJ normalizou as concentrações de triglicerídeos séricos (TG) e dos ácidos graxos não-esterificados em comparação aos animais MSG-FO, porém não alterou o conteúdo de TG no fígado, bem como, a expressão de genes e proteínas hepáticas envolvidas com o metabolismo lipídico. Além disso, a DDJ normalizou a insulinemia e a resistência à insulina, e restaurou a secreção de insulina pelas células-β na presença de 8,3 mM de glicose, independentemente da perda de peso. Ainda, ratos MSG-DDJ apresentaram redução nas áreas totais da ilhota e de células β (% área pâncreas) e na proliferação de células da ilhota (verificado pelo número de núcleos corados por Ki67). Conclusões: A cirurgia de DDJ não alterou o metabolismo lipídico no fígado, dois meses após a realização da cirurgia, sendo assim, a melhora na homeostase glicêmica nos animais pode estar associada a alterações na morfologia e proliferação das ilhotas pancreáticas

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:17:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GABRIELA_ MOREIRA SOARES.pdf: 1940590 bytes, checksum: 743251bbcf008feeceea6700678f7e3f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-30 / Fundação Araucária / Hypothalamic obesity (HyO) is a severe condition without any effective therapy. Bariatric operations appear as an alternative treatment, but the effects of this procedure are controversial. Here, we investigated the effects of duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) upon lipid profile and expression of main genes, protein and transcription factors involved in hepatic lipid metabolism pathways in HyO rats. During the first 5 days of life, male newborn Wistar rats received a subcutaneous injection of monosodium glutamate (MSG) [4 g/kg body weight (BW), HyO group]. Control (CTL) group received saline [1.25 g/kg BW]. At 90 days of age, HyO rats were randomly submitted to DJB or sham operations forming HyO DJB and HyO Sham group, respectively. Six months after DJB, obesity parameters, lipids levels, and expression of genes and protein in the liver were verified. HyO Sham rats displayed obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertryglyceridemic and presented higher free fatty acids (FFA) levels and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content. Also, HyO Sham animals enhanced acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) mRNA levels and ACC and FASN protein in the liver. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a (CPT-1a) and microsomal TG transfer protein (MTTP) were down-regulated in HyO Sham rats. DJB operation normalized serum insulin, TG and FFA levels and hepatic TG content, without changing obesity in these animals. In addition, DJB reduced mRNA levels of liver pyruvate kinase (LPK), ACC, SCD-1, acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and carbohydrate response elemento-binding protein (ChREBP). ACC and FASN protein expression were normalized in HyO DJB animals. DJB reduces de-novo lipogenesis and improves hepatic TG content in HyO DJB rats, indicating that this surgery is efficient in the resolution of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in HyO. / A obesidade hipotalâmica (OH) é uma condição severa que não apresenta nenhuma terapia eficaz. Cirurgias bariátricas têm surgido como uma alternativa de tratamento, porém, os efeitos deste procedimento são controversos. No presente trabalho, investigamos os efeitos da derivação duodeno-jejunal (DDJ) sobre o perfil lipídico e sobre a expressão gênica de proteínas e fatores de transcrição envolvidos em vias do metabolismo lipídico hepático em ratos com OH. Durante os cinco primeiros dias de vida, ratos Wistar neonatos receberam uma injeção subcutânea de glutamato monossódico (MSG) [4 g/kg de peso corporal, grupo OH]. O grupo controle (CTL) recebeu solução salina [1,25 g/kg de peso corporal]. Aos 90 dias de idade, os ratos OH foram aleatoriamente submetidos à pseudo-cirurgia (PC) ou à DDJ, formando os grupos OH PC e OH DDJ, respectivamente. Seis meses após a DDJ, foram verificados, os parâmetros de obesidade, concentração de lipídios e expressão gênica e proteica no fígado. Ratos OH PC apresentaram obesidade, hiperinsulinemia, resistência à insulina, hipertrigliceridemia, concentrações elevadas de ácidos graxos livres (AGL) e do conteúdo de triglicerídeo (TG) hepático. Também, os animais OH PC tiveram aumento na quantidade de mRNA da acetil-CoA carboxilase (ACC), ácido graxo sintetase (FASN) e estearoil-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) e da expressão proteica da ACC e FASN no fígado. A expressão gênica da carnitina palmitoil-transferase-1a (CPT-1a) e da proteína de transferência de triglicerídeos microssomal (MTTP) foram menores no fígado do grupo OH PC. A cirurgia de DDJ normalizou a concentração de insulina, AGL e TG séricos e o conteúdo de TG hepático, sem alterar a obesidade nesses animais. Além disso, a DDJ reduziu a expressão do mRNA da piruvato quinase hepática (LPK), ACC, SCD-1, acil-CoA oxidase (ACO) e da proteína de ligação do elemento responsivo à carboidratos (ChREBP). A expressão proteica de ACC e FASN foi normalizada em animais OH DDJ. A DDJ reduz a lipogênese de novo e melhora o conteúdo de TG hepático em ratos OH DDJ, indicando que esta cirurgia é eficiente na resolução da doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) na OH.