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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-09-0053v1 JOE-09-0053v2 202/1/35    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Szczepankiewicz, D. Articles by Nowak, K. W Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Szczepankiewicz, D. Articles by Nowak, K. W

Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 35 Wolynska Street, 60-637 Poznan, Poland

(Correspondence should be addressed to D Szczepankiewicz; Email: dawidsz{at}up.poznan.pl)

Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is a homolog of the agouti protein and acts as an antagonist of peptides derived from propiomelanocortin through melanocortin receptors. This peptide is produced mainly in the hypothalamus, particularly during negative energy balance and influences increased food intake. In the hypothalamus, this peptide is co-expressed in arcuate nuclei with neuropeptide Y, another important peptide that regulates energy metabolisms. In our study, we analyzed changes in the Agrp mRNA level in the hypothalamus as well as mRNA and protein levels in placenta during different stages of rat pregnancy. We also investigated the AGRP level in the blood serum. In this study, we found the AGRP level in serum increased, while its gene expression in the hypothalamus increased only up to the 13th day of pregnancy, and decreased on the 18th day. This study demonstrates that AGRP is expressed during late pregnancy in placenta. Moreover, we found that AGRP expression is higher on the 18th than on the 13th day of pregnancy. Our results indicate that AGRP may play an important role during pregnancy in the mother's and, possibly, also in the fetus's energy balance.