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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303327
Title: Neuropeptides linking the control of appetite with reproductive function in domestic animals

Author
item Lents, Clay

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2014
Publication Date: 8/1/2014
Citation: Lents, C.A. 2014. Neuropeptides linking the control of appetite with reproductive function in domestic animals [abstract]. Book of Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science. The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers. No. 20:162.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The occurrence of puberty and maintenance of normal reproductive cycles are regulated by secretion of gonadotropin hormones from the pituitary gland, which is dependent upon the pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. It is well established that secretion of gonadotropin hormones is metabolically gated. It is generally accepted that metabolic signals relay information about energy balance and the degree of body fat to key neuronal pathways in the hypothalamus to alter the secretory pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH). Neuropeptides such as neuropeptide Y, kisspeptin, and alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone appear to be central to nutritional regulation of LH release. RFamide-related peptide 3 is proposed as a hypophysiotropic hormone that suppresses LH secretion in mammals. RFamide peptides can play a role in appetite regulation and could, therefore, potentially function to interface nutrition with LH secretion. More recently, nesfatin-1 has been shown to participate in appetite regulation and energy homeostasis and may also have a role in conferring metabolic regulation on the reproductive neuroendocrine secretory axis. The challenge is to use this knowledge to devise management practices for different species that impinge upon these mechanisms to increase production efficiency of domestic animals. Partial support from CSREES (2005-35203-16852) and NIFA (2011-67015-30059).