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Neuropeptide W (NPW) is an anorectic peptide produced in the brain. Here, we showed that NPW was present in several hypothalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamus, and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. NPW expression was significantly up-regulated in leptin-deficient ob/ob and leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice. The increase in NPW expression in ob/ob mice was abrogated to control levels after leptin replacement. Leptin induced suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 after phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in NPW-expressing neurons. In addition, we demonstrated that NPW reduces feeding via the melanocortin-4-receptor signaling pathway. We also showed that NPW activates proopiomelanocortin and inhibits neuropeptide Y neurons using loose-patch extracellular recording of these neurons identified by promoter-driven green fluorescent protein expression. This study indicates that NPW may play an important role in the regulation of feeding and energy metabolism under the conditions of leptin insufficiency.

An anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process for ammonia-rich wastewater treatment has not been reported at temperatures below 15 degrees C. This study used a gel carrier with entrapped anammox bacteria to obtain a stable nitrogen removal performance at low temperatures. In a continuous feeding test, a high nitrogen conversion rate (6.2 kg N m(-3) day(-1)) was confirmed at 32 degrees C. Nitrogen removal activity decreased gradually with decreasing operation temperature; however, it still occurred at 6 degrees C. Nitrogen conversion rates at 22 and 6.3 degrees C were 2.8 and 0.36 kg N m(-3) day(-1), respectively. Moreover, the stability of anammox activity below 20 degrees C was confirmed for more than 130 days. In batch experiments, anammox gel carriers were characterized with respect to temperature. The optimum temperature for anammox bacteria was found to be 37 degrees C. Furthermore, it was clear that the temperature dependence changed at about 28 degrees C. The apparent activation energy in the temperature range from 22 to 28 degrees C was calculated as 93 kJ mol(-1), and that in the range from 28 to 37 degrees C was 33 kJ mol(-1). This value agrees with the result of a continuous feeding test (94 kJ mol(-1), between 6 and 22 degrees C). The nitrogen removal performance demonstrated at the low temperatures used in this study will open the door for the application of anammox processes to many types of industrial wastewater treatment.

Ghrelin, an acylated peptide produced predominantly in the stomach, stimulates feeding and GH secretion via interactions with the GH secretagogue type 1a receptor (GHS-R1a), the functionally active form of the GHS-R. Ghrelin molecules exist in the stomach and hypothalamus as two major endogenous forms, a form acylated at serine 3 (ghrelin) and a des-acylated form (des-acyl ghrelin). Acylation is indispensable for the binding of ghrelin to the GHS-R1a. Ghrelin enhances feeding via the neuronal pathways of neuropeptide Y and orexin, which act as orexigenic peptides in the hypothalamus. We here studied the effect of des-acyl ghrelin on feeding behavior. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of rat des-acyl ghrelin to rats or mice fed ad libitum stimulated feeding during the light phase; neither ip nor icv administration of des-acyl ghrelin to fasting mice suppressed feeding. The icv administration of des-acyl ghrelin induced the expression of Fos, a marker of neuronal activation, in orexin-expressing neurons of the lateral hypothalamic area, but not neuropeptide Y-expressing neurons of the arcuate nucleus. Peripheral administration of des-acyl ghrelin to rats or mice did not affect feeding. Although icv administration of ghrelin did not induce food intake in GHS-R-deficient mice, it did in orexin-deficient mice. In contrast, icv administration of des-acyl ghrelin stimulated feeding in GHS-R-deficient mice, but not orexin-deficient mice. Des-acyl ghrelin increased the intracellular calcium concentrations in isolated orexin neurons. Central des-acyl ghrelin may activate orexin-expressing neurons, perhaps functioning in feeding regulation through interactions with a target protein distinct from the GHS-R.

The CT-R [calcitonin (CT) receptor] is expressed in the central nervous system and is involved in the regulation of food intake, thermogenesis, and behaviors. CT-R-stimulating peptide-1 (CRSP-1), a potent ligand for the CT-R, was recently isolated from the porcine brain. In this study, we first confirmed that porcine CRSP-1 (pCRSP-1) enhanced the cAMP production in COS-7 cells expressing recombinant rat CT-R, and then we examined the central effects of pCRSP-1 on feeding and energy homeostasis in rats. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of pCRSP-1 to free-feeding rats suppressed food intake in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic icv infusion of pCRSP-1 suppressed body weight gain over the infusion period. Furthermore, icv administration of pCRSP-1 increased body temperature and decreased locomotor activity. The central effects of pCRSP-1 were more potent than those of porcine CT in rats. In contrast, ip administration of pCRSP-1 did not elicit any anorectic or catabolic effects. Administration icv of pCRSP-1 also induced mild dyskinesia of the lower extremities and decreased gastric acid output. Fos expression induced by icv administration of pCRSP-1 was detected in the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, locus coeruleus, and nucleus of solitary tract, areas that are known to regulate feeding and energy homeostasis. Administration icv of pCRSP-1 increased plasma concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone, implying that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis might be involved in catabolic effects of pCRSP-1. These results suggest that CRSP-1 can function as a ligand for the CT-R and may act as a catabolic signaling molecule in the central nervous system.

Ghrelin, an acylated peptide serving as an endogenous ligand for GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), was originally isolated from rat and human stomach. In this study, we report the critical role of maternal ghrelin in fetal development. High levels of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) mRNA were detected in various peripheral fetal tissues beginning at embryonic d 14 and lasting until birth. Fetal GHS-R expression was also confirmed in fetal tissues by immunohistochemistry. Autoradiography revealed that both des-acyl ghrelin and acyl ghrelin bind to fetal tissues. Chronic treatment of mothers with ghrelin resulted in a significant increase in birth weight in comparison to newborns from saline-treated mothers. Even when maternal food intake after ghrelin treatment was restricted through paired feeding, significant stimulation of fetal development still occurred. Conversely, active immunization of mothers against ghrelin decreased fetal body weight during pregnancy. A single ghrelin injection into the mother increased circulating ghrelin levels in the fetus within 5 min of injection, suggesting that maternal ghrelin transits easily to the fetal circulation. High levels of des-acyl ghrelin were detected in fetal blood and amniotic fluid. Both acylated and des-acyl ghrelin increased [3H]thymidine and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation of cultured fetal skin cells in a dose-dependent manner, and calcium-imaging analysis revealed that acyl and des-acyl ghrelin increased the Ca2+ influx in discrete cultured fetal skin cells, respectively. These results indicate that maternal ghrelin regulates fetal development during the late stages of pregnancy.

Ghrelin and cholecystokinin (CCK) are gastrointestinal hormones regulating feeding. Both transmitted via the vagal afferent, ghrelin elicits starvation signals, whereas CCK induces satiety signals. We investigated the interaction between ghrelin and CCK functioning in short-term regulation of feeding in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, which have a disrupted CCK type A receptor (CCK-AR), and their lean littermates, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Intravenous administration of ghrelin increased 2-h food intake in both OLETF and LETO rats. Because OLETF rats are CCK insensitive, iv-administered CCK decreased 2-h food intake in LETO, but not in OLETF, rats. Although preadministration of CCK to LETO rats blocked food intake induced by ghrelin, CCK preadministration to OLETF rats did not affect ghrelin-induced food intake. Conversely, preadministration of ghrelin to LETO rats blocked feeding reductions induced by CCK. In electrophysiological studies, once gastric vagal afferent discharges were altered by ghrelin or CCK administration, they could not be additionally affected by serial administrations of either CCK or ghrelin, respectively. The induction of Fos expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus by ghrelin was also attenuated by CCK preadministration. Using immunohistochemistry, we also demonstrated the colocalization of GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), the cellular receptor for ghrelin, with CCK-AR in vagal afferent neurons. These results indicate that the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in determining peripheral energy balance. The efficiency of ghrelin and CCK signal transduction may depend on the balance of their respective plasma concentration and/or on interactions between GHS-R and CCK-AR.

Peptide YY (PYY), an anorectic peptide, is secreted postprandially from the distal gastrointestinal tract. PYY(3-36), the major form of circulating PYY, binds to the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor (Y2-R) with a high-affinity, reducing food intake in rodents and humans. Additional gastrointestinal hormones involved in feeding, including cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide 1, and ghrelin, transmit satiety or hunger signals to the brain via the vagal afferent nerve and/or the blood stream. Here we determined the role of the afferent vagus nerve in PYY function. Abdominal vagotomy abolished the anorectic effect of PYY(3-36) in rats. Peripheral administration of PYY(3-36) induced Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus of sham-operated rats but not vagotomized rats. We showed that Y2-R is synthesized in the rat nodose ganglion and transported to the vagal afferent terminals. PYY(3-36) stimulated firing of the gastric vagal afferent nerve when administered iv. Considering that Y2-R is present in the vagal afferent fibers, PYY(3-36) could directly alter the firing rate of the vagal afferent nerve via Y2-R. We also investigated the effect of ascending fibers from the nucleus of the solitary tract on the transmission of PYY(3-36)-mediated satiety signals. In rats, bilateral midbrain transections rostral to the nucleus of the solitary tract also abolished PYY(3-36)-induced reductions in feeding. This study indicates that peripheral PYY(3-36) may transmit satiety signals to the brain in part via the vagal afferent pathway.

Ghrelin is primarily secreted from the stomach and has been implicated in the coordination of eating behavior and weight regulation. The effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on plasma ghrelin concentration and gastric ghrelin production still have not been well known. We determined plasma ghrelin concentration in a total of 160 consecutive individuals with normal body mass index including 110 H. pylori-infected and 50 H. pylori-negative subjects. The expression levels of ghrelin mRNA and ghrelin-producing cells in the gastric mucosa were quantified with real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The severity of gastric atrophy was evaluated by serum pepsinogen concentrations. Plasma ghrelin concentration, gastric ghrelin mRNA, and ghrelin-positive cell numbers in gastric mucosa were significantly lower in H. pylori-infected subjects. The decrease in plasma ghrelin concentration in H. pylori-positive subjects was accompanied by an attenuation of ghrelin mRNA expression and a reduction of ghrelin-positive cell numbers in the gastric mucosa. Moreover, lower serum pepsinogen I concentrations and I/II ratio were significantly associated with lower plasma ghrelin concentrations in H. pylori-positive subjects. These findings suggest that impaired gastric ghrelin production in association with atrophic gastritis induced by H. pylori infection accounts for the decrease in plasma ghrelin concentration.

Neuropeptide W (NPW) is a novel hypothalamic peptide that activates the previously described orphan G protein-coupled receptors, GPR7 and GPR8. Two endogenous molecular forms of NPW that consist of 23- and 30-amino acid residues were identified. The localization of GPR7 and GPR8 in some hypothalamic regions of primary importance in the regulation of feeding behavior has provided a springboard for investigation of the role of NPW in the central nervous system. In this study we examined the effects of NPW on feeding and energy expenditure in rats. Single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of NPW23 and NPW30 to free-feeding rats suppressed dark phase and fasting-induced food intake at similar effective doses. Continuous i.c.v. infusion of NPW using an osmotic minipump suppressed feeding and body weight gain over the infusion period. Conversely, i.c.v. administration of anti-NPW IgG stimulated feeding. Furthermore, i.c.v. administration of NPW increased body temperature and heat production. These data raise the possibility that NPW functions as an endogenous catabolic signaling molecule in the brain. Further investigation of the biochemical and physiological functions of NPW will help us to better understand the hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis.

The hypothalamus regulates energy intake by integrating the degree of starvation or satiation with the status of the environment through a variety of neuronal and blood-derived signals. Ghrelin, a peptide produced in the stomach and hypothalamus, stimulates feeding and GH secretion. Centrally administered ghrelin exerts an orexigenic activity through the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein systems. The interaction between ghrelin and other hypothalamic orexigenic peptides, however, has not been clarified. Here, we investigated the anatomical interactions and functional relationship between ghrelin and two orexigenic peptides, orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), present in the lateral hypothalamus. Ghrelin-immunoreactive axonal terminals made direct synaptic contacts with orexin-producing neurons. Intracerebroventricular administration of ghrelin induced Fos expression, a marker of neuronal activation, in orexin-producing neurons but not in MCH-producing neurons. Ghrelin remained competent to induce Fos expression in orexin-producing neurons following pretreatment with anti-NPY IgG. Pretreatment with anti-orexin-A IgG and anti-orexin-B IgG, but not anti-MCH IgG, attenuated ghrelin-induced feeding. Administration of NPY receptor antagonist further attenuated ghrelin-induced feeding in rats treated with anti-orexin-IgGs. Ghrelin-induced feeding was also suppressed in orexin knockout mice. This study identifies a novel hypothalamic pathway that links ghrelin and orexin in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis.

Ghrelin, a novel GH-releasing peptide isolated from human and rat stomach, stimulates food intake and GH secretion. We determined plasma ghrelin concentrations in patients with simple obesity, anorexia nervosa, and type 2 diabetes mellitus by RIA. We also studied plasma ghrelin responses to glucose load and meal intake and obtained a 24-h profile of circulating ghrelin in humans. Plasma ghrelin concentrations in patients with simple obesity and anorexia nervosa were lower and higher, respectively, than those of healthy subjects with normal body weight. Among those with type 2 diabetes mellitus, obese patients had lower and lean patients higher fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations than normal-weight patients. Fasting plasma ghrelin concentration was negatively correlated with body mass index in both nondiabetic and diabetic patients. Plasma ghrelin concentrations of normal subjects decreased significantly after oral and iv glucose administration; a similar response was also observed in diabetic patients after a meal tolerance test, reaching a nadir of 69% of the basal level after the meal. Circulating plasma ghrelin showed a diurnal pattern with preprandial increases, postprandial decreases, and a maximum peak at 0200 h. This study demonstrates that nutritional state is a determinant of plasma ghrelin in humans. Ghrelin secretion is up-regulated under conditions of negative energy balance and down-regulated in the setting of positive energy balance. These findings suggest the involvement of ghrelin in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis.

Ghrelin, a novel GH-releasing acylated peptide, was recently isolated from rat stomach. It stimulated the release of GH from the anterior pituitary through the GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin messenger RNA and the peptide are present in rat stomach, but its cellular source has yet to be determined. Using two different antibodies against the N- and C-terminal regions of rat ghrelin, we identified ghrelin-producing cells in the gastrointestinal tracts of rats and humans by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization combined with immunohistochemistry. Ghrelin-immunoreactive cells, which are not enterochromaffin-like cells, D cells, or enterochromaffin cells, accounted for about 20% of the endocrine cell population in rat and human oxyntic glands. Rat ghrelin was present in round, compact, electron-dense granules compatible with those of X/A-like cells whose hormonal product and physiological functions have not previously been clarified. The localization, population, and ultrastructural features of ghrelin-producing cells (Gr cells) indicate that they are X/A-like cells. Ghrelin also was found in enteric endocrine cells of rats and humans. Using two RIAs for the N- and C-terminal regions of ghrelin, we determined its content in the rat gastrointestinal tract. Rat ghrelin was present from the stomach to the colon, with the highest content being in the gastric fundus. Messenger RNAs of ghrelin and GHS-R also were found in these organs. Ghrelin probably functions not only in the control of GH secretion, but also in the regulation of diverse processes of the digestive system. Our findings provide clues to additional, as yet undefined, physiological functions of this novel gastrointestinal hormone.

Spermatic cord metastases from gastric cancer are rare. We here document a case involving a gastric cancer that mimicked primary testicular tumor because of elevation of the serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (hCG-beta). The possibility of metastasis or recurrence of prior malignancies should therefore be considered when the clinical features described here are encountered, although elevation of hCG-beta is rare with tumors other than those in testis.

Uroguanylin is an endogenous peptide ligand for guanylyl cyclase-C, an apical membrane receptor predominantly located in the gastrointestinal epithelium. It regulates intestinal and renal fluid and electrolyte transport through the second messenger, cyclic GMP. Uroguanylin messenger RNA and the peptide are present in rat stomach, but the cellular source has not been identified. We separated gastric mucosal cells by size into seven fractions (F1-F7) and enriched endocrine cells into F1-F3 using counterflow elutriation. Uroguanylin messenger RNA and peptide were found in F1-F3 by Northern blot analysis and an RIA specific for rat uroguanylin. Uroguanylin-producing cells were identified as endocrine cells by immunocytochemical methods using antisera for uroguanylin, prouroguanylin, and chromogranin A, as well as by in situ hybridization cytochemistry. Double-staining showed that uroguanylin and histamine are colocalized in enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells that release histamine, leading to the stimulation of gastric acid secretion from parietal cells. Uroguanylin is synthesized in ECL cells. These findings should contribute to elucidating the physiological functions of ECL cells and the cyclic GMP-mediated gastric ion transport mechanism.

Uroguanylin, a member of the guanylin peptide family, acts on guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C) to regulate intestinal and renal fluid and electrolyte transport through the second messenger, cGMP. Using an antiserum raised against synthetic rat uroguanylin, we established an RIA and identified three endogenous molecular forms in the intestine and kidney: a 15-amino acid uroguanylin, an 18-amino acid uroguanylin that is a monobasic processing product, and a 9.4-kDa prouroguanylin. Prouroguanylin is the major molecular form in these two tissues, whereas only 15-amino-acid uroguanylin is present in the urine. Rat uroguanylin is most abundant in the proximal small intestine, its content decreasing toward the colon. Uroguanylin is present immunohistochemically in the endocrine cells in the intestine and stomach, B cells in the pancreatic islets, and tubular epithelial cells in the kidney. Uroguanylin has a widespread tissue distribution and is located in cells that function in an endocrine, paracrine, and/or luminocrine (luminal secretion) fashion. Uroguanylin may have physiological functions other than the regulation of fluid and electrolyte transport in the intestine and kidney.