| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4344303 | Neuroscience Letters | 2012 | 5 Pages |
Background/aimsGhrelin can act as a signal for mealtime hunger and meal initiation. Amygdala is indispensable in appetitive behavior motivated by learned emotions. This study was to investigate the alteration of ghrelin in the amygdala of rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) and its relation with uremic anorexia.MethodsSD rats were randomly classified into CRF group and control group (n = 16 per group). The CRF model was constructed using 5/6 nephrectomy. When plasma creatinine (PCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the CRF group were twice more than the normal level, food intake (g/24 h) was measured and then all rats were killed for detection of ghrelin protein expression in the amygdala using immunohistochemical analysis and mRNA expression using RT-PCT. Statistics was conducted with one-way analysis of variance, Student–Newman–Keuls-q test and correlation analysis.ResultsBy the 8th week after the surgery, the BUN and PCr of CRF rats exceeded double the normal level, and their food intake was obviously decreased compared with the controls (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of ghrelin in the amygdala of CRF group were significantly reduced, and there was a positive correlation between this reduction and the decrease in food intake (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe reduction of amygdala's ghrelin in CRF rats may be associated with uremic anorexia.
► Ghrelin protein and mRNA expression in the amygdala of CRF rats were reduced. ► There is a positive correlation between reduction of amygdala's ghrelin and cumulative food intake (24 h) in CRF rats. ► This reduction of amygdala's ghrelin may be associated with uremic anorexia.
