Siberian hamsters develop a naturally-occurring, photoperiod-induced obesity in long summer days (LDs) and that is reversed by short winter days (SDs). The LD-induced obesity is reversed by SNS stimulation of WAT and these and other data show that stimulation of WAT SNS drive is the principal initiator of lipolysis. Using a retrograde transneuronal viral tract tracer, the pseudorabies virus (PRV), the origins of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow from brain to white and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT) have been defined. Using an anterograde transneuronal viral tract tracer, the H129 strain of the herpes simplex virus-1, the central sensory circuits from WAT have been defined. Emphasize here is on LD obesity reversal via the SNS, but the manipulations are largely independent of SDs thereby having greater relevance to human obesity reversal. How does WAT SNS and sensory innervation coordinate the control of fat pad-specific WAT lipolysis and BAT thermogenesis? In Aim 1, tests for convergence of brain SNS outflow projections to different WAT/BAT pads are done using multiple PRV variants. The role of central melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4-Rs) in WAT lipolysis/BAT thermogenesis is tested by injecting MC4-R agonist into brain sites of WAT/ BAT SNS outflow neurons co-localized with MC4-Rs. Whether MC4-R-induced increased WAT SNS drive/lipolysis is modifiable is tested by sympathectomizing WAT pads to induce increased SNS drive by the remaining WAT pads.
In Aim 2, neuroanatomical tests for SNS-sensory feedback loops subserving lipolysis are done using PRV (SNS) and H129 (sensory) injected into the same WAT pads and is tested functionally by measuring WAT sensory nerve electrophysiological activity in response to lipolysis-associated factors. The role of sensory nerve feedback for appropriate WAT SNS drive/lipolysis is tested by selectively sensory denervating WAT pads followed by lipolytic challenges. These studies will provide new and critical data regarding the control of lipolysis and thermogenesis in obesity reversal.

Public Health Relevance

Obesity reversal is poorly understood, but decreases in visceral fat especially improves health. Because fat depots do not decrease in size uniformly, understanding the mechanisms controlling the breakdown of stored lipid in each fat depot is critical. Here we uniquely test the roles of brain connections to fat and conversely fat connections to brain via sympathetic and sensory nerves, respectively, in the process using a naturally-occurring model of seasonal obesity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37DK035254-29
Application #
8308633
Study Section
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, and Behavior Study Section (NNB)
Program Officer
Yanovski, Susan Z
Project Start
1984-09-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
29
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$476,484
Indirect Cost
$146,737
Name
Georgia State University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
837322494
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30302
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Nguyen, Ngoc Ly T; Xue, Bingzhong; Bartness, Timothy J (2018) Sensory denervation of inguinal white fat modifies sympathetic outflow to white and brown fat in Siberian hamsters. Physiol Behav 190:28-33
Nguyen, Ngoc Ly T; Barr, Candace L; Ryu, Vitaly et al. (2017) Separate and shared sympathetic outflow to white and brown fat coordinately regulates thermoregulation and beige adipocyte recruitment. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 312:R132-R145
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Bartness, T J; Ryu, V (2015) Neural control of white, beige and brown adipocytes. Int J Obes Suppl 5:S35-9
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Ryu, Vitaly; Bartness, Timothy J (2014) Short and long sympathetic-sensory feedback loops in white fat. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 306:R886-900
Garretson, John T; Bartness, Timothy J (2014) Dynamic modification of hoarding in response to hoard size manipulation. Physiol Behav 127:8-12
Nguyen, Ngoc Ly T; Randall, Jessica; Banfield, Bruce W et al. (2014) Central sympathetic innervations to visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 306:R375-86

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