Regulation of hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin by leptin in lean and obese rats

The mechanisms by which leptin influences energy homeostasis are not entirely understood. Several observations indicate that proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is involved in the regulation of food intake and may be a mediator of leptin action. To further study this interaction, a sensitive solution hybridization assay was used to compare the levels of POMC mRNA in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) of lean (+/+, +/fa(f)) and obese leptin receptor-deficient (fa(f)/fa(f)) rats. POMC peptide products were also measured by RIA in the same animals. Cytoplasmic POMC RNA levels were significantly reduced by 53% in obese rats as compared with lean controls: 0.30 ± 0.04 vs. 0.64 ± 0.07 pg/μg total RNA (p < 0.02). Significant reductions in mean concentrations of hypothalamic POMC-derived peptides from the same dissections were detected in the obese rats vs. lean controls: α-MSH 1.77 ± 0.07 vs. 2.34 ± 0.10; β-EP 4.06 ± 0.24 vs. 5.86 ± 0.36; γ₃-MSH 5.32 ± 0.20 vs. 6.52 ± 0.12 ng/mg protein (p < 0.001). To determine whether leptin stimulates POMC gene transcription, the acute effect of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of leptin (5 μg) on POMC primary transcript was quantified in the MBH of lean rats after a 16-hour fast. There was a significant 167% increase in mean POMC hnRNA levels 3 h after i.c.v. leptin injection (1.15 ± 0.22 pg/MBH; p < 0.02), but not after 1 h (0.76 ± 0.08 pg/MBH), compared to saline controls (0.69 ± 0.08 pg/MBH). 4 h after the injection of leptin, POMC hnRNA was still increased, but to a lesser extent (140%), as compared with control animals (p = 0.006). These studies demonstrate for the first time in the leptin receptor-deficient rat that there is an associated decrease in POMC gene expression and peptide levels in the MBH. Furthermore, the acute increase in the levels of POMC primary transcript in non-obese rats after a single i.c.v. injection of leptin supports a role for leptin in the regulation of POMC gene transcription. Taken together, these studies provide further evidence that POMC is an important mediator of the effects of leptin on food intake and energy expenditure.