Omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid imbalance early in life leads to persistant reductions in DHA levels in glycerophospholipids in rat hypothalamus even after long-term omega 3 fatty acid repletion

Failure to provide omega 3 fatty acids in the perinatal period results in alterations in nerve growth factor levels, dopamine production and  permanent elevations in blood pressure. The present study investigated whether changes in brain (i.e., hypothalamus) glycerophospholipid fatty acid profiles induced by a diet rich in omega 6 fatty acids and very low in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during pregnancy and the perinatal period could be reversed by subsequent feeding of a diet containing ALA. Female rats (6 per group) were mated and fed either a low ALA diet or a control diet containing ALA throughout pregnancy and until weaning of the pups at 3 weeks. At weaning, the pups (20 per group) remained on the diet of their mothers until 9 weeks, when half the pups were switched onto the other diet, thus generating four groups of animals. At 33 weeks, pups were killed, the hypothalamus dissected from the male rats and analysed for glycerophospholipid fatty acids. In the animals fed the diet with very little ALA and then re-fed the control diet containing high levels of ALA for 24 weeks, the DHA levels were still significantly less than the control values in PE, PS and PI fractions, by 9%, 18% and 34%, respectively. In this group, but not in the other dietary groups, ALA was detected in all glycerophospholipid classes at 0.2–1.7% of the total fatty acids. The results suggest that omega 6–3 PUFA imbalance early in life leads to irreversible changes in hypothalamic composition. The increased ALA and reduced DHA proportions in the animals re-fed ALA in later life are consistent with a dysfunction or down-regulation of the conversion of ALA to 18:4n-3 by the delta-6 desaturase.

Gene expressed in hypothalamus of obese animals and pharmaceutical use

Describes a method that relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein associated with the modulation of obesity, diabetes and metabolic energy levels. More particularly, the present method is directed to a nucleic acid molecule and a recombinant and purified naturally occurring protein encoded thereby and their use in therapeutic and diagnostic protocols for conditions such as obesity, diabetes and energy imbalance. The subject nucleic acid molecule and protein and their derivatives, homologues, analogues and mimetics are proposed as therapeutic and diagnostic agents for obesity, diabetes and energy imbalance.

Nucleic acid expressed in the hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complementary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

Nucleic acid expressed in the hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complementary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

Nucleic acid expressed in the hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complementary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

Nucleic acid expressed in the hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complementary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

Nucleic acid expressed in the hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complementary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

NUCLEIC ACID EXPRESSED IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OR MUSCLE TISSUE IN OBESE ANIMALS

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complimentary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a large r amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucle ic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

Nucleic acid expressed in hypothalamus or muscle tissue in obese animals

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complimentary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

NUCLEIC ACID EXPRESSED IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OR MUSCLE TISSUE IN OBESE ANIMALS

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complimentary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.

NUCLEIC ACID EXPRESSED IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OR MUSCLE TISSUE IN OBESE ANIMALS

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides encoding or complimentary to a sequence encoding a molecule or derivative or homologue thereof wherein said nucleic acid molecule is expressed in a larger amount in one or both hypothalamus tissue or muscle tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals or in fed animals compared to fasted animals. Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. It is proposed to use the expression products of such nucleic acids as modulators and/or monitors of physiological processes associated with obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, impaired muscle development, diabetes and/or metabolic energy levels.