Tumor anorexia: effects on neuropeptide Y and monoamines in paraventricular nucleus

Peptides. 2004 Feb;25(2):261-6. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2004.01.012.

Abstract

Paraventricular (PVN) concentrations of neuropeptide Y (NPY), serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in anorectic tumor-bearing (TB) rats were measured before and after tumor resection. At onset of anorexia in TB versus non-tumor bearing (NTB) Controls 5-HT increased from 12.19+/-0.49 pg/microg to 14.89+/-0.81 pg/microg ( P<0.05 ) while DA and NPY decreased from 7.34+/-0.42 pg/microg to 4.97+/-0.56 pg/microg and 23.47+/-4.27 pg/microg to 13.64+/-1.44 pg/microg, respectively ( P<0.05 ). After tumor resection, these neuromediators normalized when compared to sham-operated NTB rats. NTB pair-fed Controls were also studied. We conclude that the increased 5-HT and the decreased DA and NPY concentrations in PVN are associated with cancer anorexia and that the NPY food stimulatory effect is linked to serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems in hypothalamus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anorexia / etiology*
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Neuropeptide Y / metabolism*
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Sarcoma, Experimental / complications
  • Sarcoma, Experimental / metabolism
  • Serotonin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Serotonin
  • Dopamine