Biomedical subjects

B M C McGowan

Publications and source records attributed to B M C McGowan.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Central relaxin-3 administration causes hyperphagia in male Wistar rats.

Relaxin-3 (INSL-7) is a recently discovered member of the insulin superfamily. Relaxin-3 mRNA is expressed in the nucleus incertus of the brainstem, which has projections to the hypothalamus. Relaxin-3 binds with high affinity to the LGR7 receptor and to the previously orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPCR135. GPCR135 mRNA is expressed predominantly in the central nervous system, particularly in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The presence of relaxin-3 and these receptors in the PVN led us to investigate the effect of central administration of relaxin-3 on food intake in male Wistar rats. The receptor involved in mediating these effects was also investigated. Intracerebroventricular injections of human relaxin-3 (H3) to satiated rats significantly increased food intake 1 h post administration in the early light phase [0.96 +/- 0.16 g (vehicle) vs. 1.81 +/- 0.21 g (180 pmol H3), P < 0.05] and the early dark phase [2.95 +/- 0.45 g (vehicle) vs. 4.39 +/- 0.39 g (180 pmol H3), P < 0.05]. Intra-PVN H3 administration significantly increased 1-h food intake in satiated rats in the early light phase [0.34 +/- 0.16 g (vehicle) vs. 1.23 +/- 0.30 g (18 pmol H3), P < 0.05] and the early dark phase [4.43 +/- 0.32 g (vehicle) vs. 6.57 +/- 0.42 g (18 pmol H3), P < 0.05]. Feeding behavior increased after intra-PVN H3. Equimolar doses of human relaxin-2, which binds the LGR7 receptor but not GPCR135, did not increase feeding. Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y, proopiomelanocortin, or agouti-related peptide mRNA expression did not change after acute intracerebroventricular H3. These results suggest a novel role for relaxin-3 in appetite regulation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Peptide YY and appetite control.

Peptide YY (PYY) is an important gut hormone synthesized and secreted by the gastrointestinal tract. Peripheral administration of PYY(3-36), one of the circulating forms of PYY, is known to inhibit food intake. This anorexigenic effect is masked by stress inhibition of appetite, and it is therefore important for animals to be thoroughly acclimatised for PYY(3-36) to be effective. Evidence suggests that PYY(3-36) acts via the hypothalamic Y(2) receptor. Levels of the anorexigenic hormone PYY(3-36) are low in overweight volunteers and could provide an important therapeutic avenue in the quest to combat the obesity epidemic.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Deep vein thrombosis followed by internal jugular vein thrombosis as a complication of in vitro fertilization in a woman heterozygous for the prothrombin 3' UTR and factor V Leiden mutations.

Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein is a rare event but one that can have serious consequences. Most cases reported in the literature have occurred in patients with indwelling central venous catheters, in association with head and neck sepsis, or in hypercoagulable states. However, a small number of cases have been associated with in vitro fertilization and more often with the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). We report the case of a 30-year-old woman heterozygous for both the prothrombin 3' UTR mutation and for the factor V Leiden mutation who presented with a proximal deep vein thrombosis following in vitro fertilization. She subsequently developed an internal jugular vein thrombosis extending into the subclavian and axillary vein despite therapeutic anticoagulation with a low molecular weight heparin. Thromboembolic events can occur in the absence of other clinical features of OHSS, especially in patients with underlying prothrombotic abnormalities. Neck pain and swelling in a pregnant woman, especially one that has undergone in vitro fertilization, should be taken seriously and investigated with duplex scanning and/or MRI. Women with a personal or family history of thrombosis undergoing in vitro fertilization should be made fully aware of the potential thrombotic risks and should be considered for a thrombophilia screen.

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