Ware, M., Garton, M. J., Malabu, U. H., Dickie, A., Davidson-Lamb, R., Walmsley, D., and Williams, G. (1993) Neuropeptide Y concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid are unchanged in obesity. Clinical Science, 84 (Supplement No. 28). 160. p. 44.

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Abstract

Neuropeptide Y (NPy) is a potent centrally acting appetite-stimulating peptide implicated in the regulation of energy balance. It induces hyperphagia and obesity when injected into the rat hypothalamus. Hypothalamic NPY and NPY mRNA levels are increased in spontaneously obese rats, suggesting that it may be involved in causing obesity in rodents. It is not known whether NPY has a role in the pathogenesis of obesity in man. NPY is found in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and we have therefore compared CSF NPY levels in normal obese and non-obese individuals to determine whether NPY concentrations might be increased in obesity.

We studied 25 clinically normal subjects (age 67 ± 5 years. male 11. female 14) undergoing spinal anaesthesia. None had any significant illness. Samples of 1 ml were freeze-dried and reconstituted to 100 ul and 35ul aliquots were assayed for NPY using an in-house RIA. CSF NPY levels were not correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r=O.088. p=O.673) and there were no differences in NPY concentrations between groups of subjects stratified for BMI: BMI <22 (n=7), 695±77 (SEM) fmol/ml; BMI22-25 (n=7). 701 ± 82 fmol/ml; BMI >25 (n=ll), 702 ± 55 fmol/ml (differences between all groups. p>0l).

CSF NPY levels are therefore not increased in human obesity. NPY is found in many brain regions outside the hypothalamic appetite-regulating nuclei, which could contribute to CSF levels. This negative observation does not therefore exclude a role of the peptide, acting specifically in the hypothalamus, in contributing to human obesity.

Item ID:	29862
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1470-8736
Related URLs:	Publisher
Additional Information:	This special issue of Clinical Science contains communications of the Medical Research Society Meeting held on 5 and 6 November 1992.
Date Deposited:	31 Mar 2014 07:58
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110306 Endocrinology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920104 Diabetes @ 100%
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