Gut-derived peptide hormone receptor expression in the developing mouse hypothalamus

PLoS One. 2023 Aug 17;18(8):e0290043. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290043. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Objective: In adult organisms, a number of receptors have been identified which modulate metabolic processes related to peptides derived from the intestinal tract. These receptors play significant roles in glucose homeostasis, food intake and energy balance. Here we assess these classical metabolic receptors and their expression as well as their potential role in early development of hypothalamic neuronal circuits.

Methods: Chow-fed C57BL6/N female mice were mated and hypothalamic tissue was collected from offspring across postnatal development (postnatal day 7-21). Subsequent qPCR and Western Blot analyses were used to determine mRNA and protein changes in gut-derived peptide hormone receptors. Correlations to body weight, blood glucose and circulating leptin levels were analyzed.

Results: We describe the gene expression and dynamic protein regulation of key gut-derived peptide hormone receptors in the early postnatal period of the mouse brain. Specifically, we show changes to Gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R), and cholecystokinin receptor 2 (CCK2R) in the developing hypothalamus. The changes to GIPR and InsR seem to be strongly negatively correlated with body weight.

Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis underscores the need to understand the roles of maternal-derived circulating gut hormones and their direct effect on offspring brain development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Weight
  • Brain
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Peptide*

Substances

  • Receptors, Peptide
  • Blood Glucose

Grants and funding

This work was supported financially by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany´s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2049 – 390688087 (NeuroCure to RNL) and by the German Center for Diabetes Research (82DZD03D2Y and 82DZD03D03 to RNL). Additional funds were acquired from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 491394008. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.