Photoperiodic and Diurnal Regulation of WNT Signaling in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Female Djungarian Hamster, Phodopus sungorus

Endocrinology. 2016 Feb;157(2):799-809. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1708. Epub 2015 Dec 8.

Abstract

The WNT pathway was shown to play an important role in the adult central nervous system. We previously identified the WNT pathway as a novel integration site of the adipokine leptin in mediating its neuroendocrine control of metabolism in obese mice. Here we investigated the implication of WNT signaling in seasonal body weight regulation exhibited by the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus), a seasonal mammal that exhibits profound annual changes in leptin sensitivity. We furthermore investigated whether crucial components of the WNT pathway are regulated in a diurnal manner. Gene expression of key components of the WNT pathway in the hypothalamus of hamsters acclimated to either long day (LD) or short day (SD) photoperiod was analyzed by in situ hybridization. We detected elevated expression of the genes WNT-4, Axin-2, Cyclin-D1, and SFRP-2, in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, a key energy balance integration site, during LD compared with SD as well as a diurnal regulation of Axin-2, Cyclin-D1, and DKK-3. Investigating the effect of photoperiod as well as leptin on the activation (phosphorylation) of the WNT coreceptor LRP-6-(Ser1490) by immunohistochemistry, we found elevated activity in the arcuate nucleus during LD relative to SD as well as after leptin treatment (2 mg/kg body weight). These findings indicate that differential WNT signaling may be associated with seasonal body weight regulation and is partially regulated in a diurnal manner in the adult brain. Furthermore, they suggest that this pathway plays a key role in the neuroendocrine regulation of body weight and integration of the leptin signal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • Axin Protein / drug effects
  • Axin Protein / genetics*
  • Axin Protein / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Body Weight / genetics*
  • Circadian Rhythm / drug effects
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics*
  • Cricetinae
  • Cyclin D1 / drug effects
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics*
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Leptin / pharmacology
  • Membrane Proteins / drug effects
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Phodopus
  • Photoperiod*
  • Seasons
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics*
  • Wnt4 Protein / drug effects
  • Wnt4 Protein / genetics*
  • Wnt4 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Axin Protein
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Leptin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Wnt4 Protein
  • Cyclin D1