Analysis of intracerebroventricular injection of melatonin in feeding behavior and changes in signal transmission of insulin in liver, muscle and adipose tissues in the experimental diurnal model Arvicanthis ansorgei

• Grant number: 12/20229-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: José Cipolla Neto
• Grantee: Rosana Fátima Dantas Ferreira
• Supervisor: Etienne Challet
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Strasbourg, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/12947-4 - Effects of central melatonin replacement therapy in older animals - changes in insulin signal transmission in the hypothalamus, liver, muscle and adipose tissue., BP.DR

Abstract

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland during the night. As your circulatory rhythms are robust and predictable they are strong synchronizers for the expression of several physiological processes, including energy metabolism. Studies in our group have shown that melatonin replacement orally in older animals, regulates insulin responses, reduces food intake due to body weight lost. Some studies show that central injection of melatonin is more effective than replacement in periphery in glucose regulation (greater hypoglycemic action). Furthermore, studies in our group have shown that replacement of melatonin orally regulates insulin responses and reduces food intake and body weight in aged animals. Since there is evidence in the literature that melatonin may act centrally regulating energy metabolism, it is intended with this work evaluate the effects of the injection of melatonin in diurnal rats, by reverse microdialysis in the third ventricle, on feeding behavior, variation of body weight and peripheral insulin response. These metabolic parameters are well known in animals of nocturnal activity and very little is known about how they happen in diurnal rodents. It is proposed with this project the evaluation of these metabolic parameters in experimental diurnal animal Arvicanthis ansorgei. (AU)