Central growth hormone action regulates metabolism during pregnancy

Author(s)

Teixeira, Pryscila D. S. ^[1] ; Couto, Gisele C. ^[1] ; Furigo, Isadora C. ^[1] ; List, Edward O. ^{[2, 3]} ; Kopchick, John J. ^{[2, 3]} ; Donato, Jr., Jose ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Ohio Univ, Edison Biotechnol Inst, Athens, OH 45701 - USA

^[3] Ohio Univ, Heritage Coll Osteopath Med, Athens, OH 45701 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM; v. 317, n. 5, p. E925-E940, NOV 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The maternal organism undergoes numerous metabolic adaptations to become prepared for the demands associated with the coming offspring. These metabolic adaptations involve changes induced by several hormones that act at multiple levels, ultimately influencing energy and glucose homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation. Previous studies have shown that central growth hormone (GH) action modulates glucose and energy homeostasis. However, whether central GH action regulates metabolism during pregnancy and lactation is still unknown. In the present study, we generated mice carrying ablation of GH receptor (GHR) in agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons, in leptin receptor (LepR)-expressing cells or in the entire brain to investigate the role played by central GH action during pregnancy and lactation. AgRP-specific GHR ablation led to minor metabolic changes during pregnancy and lactation. However, while brain-specific GHR ablation reduced food intake and body adiposity during gestation, LepR GHR knockout (KO) mice exhibited increased leptin responsiveness in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus during late pregnancy, although their offspring showed reduced growth rate. Additionally, both Brain GHR KO and LepR GHR KO mice had lower glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion during pregnancy, despite presenting increased insulin sensitivity, compared with control pregnant animals. Our findings revealed that during pregnancy central GH action regulates food intake, fat retention, as well as the sensitivity to insulin and leptin in a cell-specific manner. Together, the results suggest that GH acts in concert with other ``gestational hormones{''} to prepare the maternal organism for the metabolic demands of the offspring. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/04006-4 - The importance of growth hormone's action on NPY/AgRP neurons
• Grantee: Gisele Cristina Lopes Couto Spiri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/02983-2 - The role of growth hormone in the brain: relevance for neural functions and in disease
• Grantee: Jose Donato Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/09679-4 - Central effects of growth hormone on energetic metabolism and glicemic control
• Grantee: Isadora Clivatti Furigo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral