Alterations of Hypothalamic Pro-opiomelanocortin Gene Expression and Appetite in Response, to One-month Regular Moderate Exercise

Location of two sets of neurons; pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, represents a core role of the hypothalamus in the regulation of energy balance. One of the important factors in energy balance is exercise. Until now, the effects of exercise on hypothalamic POMC and NPY genes expression, weight and appetite control are not clear. Therefore, in the present study, the influence of one-month regular moderate exercise in serum level of corticosterone, as one of the factors affecting appetite, and gene expression of hypothalamic POMC and NPY were discussed. Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and one-month regular moderate exercise (RME) groups. After, one-month exercise (22m/min), the arcuate nucleus was isolated from brain and stored in -80 refrigerators for gene expression assay by real-time PCR method. In addition, serum samples were taken to assess corticosterone level by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by Independent t-test in SPSS-16. Pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA level was lower in the group which received exercise less than the control animal (P. The results of the present study indicate that regular moderate exercise is effective in reducing stress but probably increasing anorexigenic neuropeptide, proopiomelanocortin, gene expression is the reason for incapacitation of exercise for losing weight.