TY - JOUR
T1 - An anorexic lipid mediator regulated by feeding
AU - Rodríguez De Fonseca, F.
AU - Navarro, M.
AU - Gómez, R.
AU - Escuredo, L.
AU - Nava, F.
AU - Fu, J.
AU - Murillo-Rodríguez, E.
AU - Giuffrida, A.
AU - Loverme, J.
AU - Gaetani, S.
AU - Kathuria, S.
AU - Gall, C.
AU - Piomelli, D.
PY - 2001/11/8
Y1 - 2001/11/8
N2 - Oleylethanolamide (OEA) is a natural analogue of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Like anandamide, OEA is produced in cells in a stimulus-dependent manner and is rapidly eliminated by enzymatic hydrolysis, suggesting a function in cellular signalling 1. However, OEA does not activate cannabinoid receptors and its biological functions are still unknown 2. Here we show that, in rats, food deprivation markedly reduces OEA biosynthesis in the small intestine. Administration of OEA causes a potent and persistent decrease in food intake and gain in body mass. This anorexic effect is behaviourally selective and is associated with the discrete activation of brain regions (the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and the nucleus of the solitary tract) involved in the control of satiety. OEA does not affect food intake when injected into the brain ventricles, and its anorexic actions are prevented when peripheral sensory fibres are removed by treatment with capsaicin. These results indicate that OEA is a lipid mediator involved in the peripheral regulation of feeding.
AB - Oleylethanolamide (OEA) is a natural analogue of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Like anandamide, OEA is produced in cells in a stimulus-dependent manner and is rapidly eliminated by enzymatic hydrolysis, suggesting a function in cellular signalling 1. However, OEA does not activate cannabinoid receptors and its biological functions are still unknown 2. Here we show that, in rats, food deprivation markedly reduces OEA biosynthesis in the small intestine. Administration of OEA causes a potent and persistent decrease in food intake and gain in body mass. This anorexic effect is behaviourally selective and is associated with the discrete activation of brain regions (the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and the nucleus of the solitary tract) involved in the control of satiety. OEA does not affect food intake when injected into the brain ventricles, and its anorexic actions are prevented when peripheral sensory fibres are removed by treatment with capsaicin. These results indicate that OEA is a lipid mediator involved in the peripheral regulation of feeding.
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U2 - 10.1038/35102582
DO - 10.1038/35102582
M3 - Article
C2 - 11700558
AN - SCOPUS:0035829625
SN - 0028-0836
VL - 414
SP - 209
EP - 212
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
IS - 6860
ER -