Effect of prolonged treatment with epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the hippocampal and hypothalamic content of proteins related to inflammation and serotonin pathways.

• Grant number: 11/16199-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lila Missae Oyama
• Grantee: Marcos Hiromu Okuda
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The central nervous system plays complex physiological mechanisms to maintain the balance between food intake and energy expenditure. The hypothalamus integrates multiple central and peripheral influences that control energy homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that mesocorticolimbic regions such as the hippocampus, also participate in the energy balance, overcoming the hypothalamic homeostatic control during consumption of high-fat diet. Chronic consumption of these diets impair the mechanisms involved in energy balance, inducing genesis of obesity. The epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin of green tea, showed anti-obesogenic effects. Here, we aimed to further research this line, already initiated in our laboratory by analyzing the peripheral metabolic effects of EGCG in animal models of high-fat diet induced obesity. Swiss mice will receive high-fat diet for eight weeks and treated with EGCG. Body weight and food intake evolution will be evaluated. In sequence, blood samples will be colected for determination of blood glucose, insulin, leptin, corticosterone and inflammatory mediators levels. The hypothalamus and hippocampus will be dissected and subjected to analysis of western blotting for proteins of the serotonergic system and inflammation. The final data will allow identification of possible mediators of central anti-obesity effects of EGCG.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OKUDA, MARCOS H.; ZEMDEGS, JULIANE C. S.; DE SANTANA, ALINE A.; SANTAMARINA, ALINE B.; MORENO, MAYARA F.; HACHUL, ANA C. L.; DOS SANTOS, BRUNO; OLLER DO NASCIMENTO, CLAUDIA M.; RIBEIRO, ELIANE B.; OYAMA, LILA M.. Green tea extract improves high fat diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation, without affecting the serotoninergic system. JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY, v. 25, n. 10, p. 1084-1089, OCT 2014. (12/03713-5, 11/16199-5, 09/14373-8)