Mechanism of the induction of brain c-Fos-positive neurons by lipid absorption

Abstract

Many gastrointestinal meal-related signals are transmitted to the central nervous system via the vagus nerve and thereby control changes in meal size. The c-Fos-positive neuron has been used as a marker of neuronal activation after lipid meals to examine the contribution of a selective macronutrient on brain neurocircuit activity. In rats fed Intralipid, the c-Fos-positive neurons were highly stimulated in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and in the hypothalamus, including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), and ventromedial hypothalamus at 4 h lipid feeding. However, c-Fos-like immunoreactivity was markedly attenuated in these brain regions when chylomicron formation/secretion was blocked by Pluronic L-81. After lymph was diverted from the lymph cannulated animals, the rats had a lower number of c-Fos-positive cells in the NTS and ARC. In contrast, the rats had higher c-Fos-positive neurons in PVN. The present study also revealed that c-Fos-positive neurons induced by feeding of Intalipid were abolished by CCK type 1 receptor antagonist, Lorglumide. We conclude that the formation and/or secretion of chylomicron are critical steps for initiating neuronal activation in the brain.