Effects of central irisin administration on the uncoupling proteins in rat brain

It was observed that after application of the high dose irisin, UCP5 mRNA level in the all brain areas increased (p < 0.05); it was also observed that the three doses decreased the UCP4 expression in all brain areas (except the pituitary gland; p < 0.05). The UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA expressions showed significantly increase in cerebellum and striatum (p < 0.05). The UCP2 mRNA expression decreased in hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hippocampus and cortex areas (p < 0.05). It was also observed that the body temperatures of the rats increased depending on the irisin injection and this increase was the most considerable at the 24 h (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the UCP2-5 is expressed in different areas of the brain, and the irisin affects this expression, and may have effective roles in some brain functions.