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Identification, tissue distribution and evaluation of brain neuropeptide Y gene expression in the Brazilian flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus

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Abstract

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most potent stimulants of food intake in vertebrates, mammals and fish. However, the present knowledge about feeding behaviour in fish is still limited and based on studies in a few species. The Brazilian flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus is being considered for aquaculture, and it is important to understand the mechanisms regulating feeding in order to improve its performance in captivity. The objectives of this study were to clone NPY cDNA, evaluate the mRNA levels in different tissues of flounder, and also evaluate brain NPY expression to associate food intake with NPY expression levels. A 597 bp NPY cDNA was cloned from Brazilian flounder brain. NPY expression was detected in all the peripheral tissues analysed. No significant differences were observed in brain NPY gene expression over 24 h after food intake at a temperature of 15 ± 3°C. No correlation was observed among plasma glucose, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides and NPY expression levels during this 24 h period. On the other hand, mRNA levels were increased after two weeks of fasting at elevated temperatures. Our results suggest that NPY mRNA levels in Brazilian flounder are affected by temperature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, CP 354, 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Vinicius F. Campos, Tiago Collares, João C. Deschamps, Fabiana K. Seixas & Odir A. Dellagostin

  2. Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Bodø University College, NO-8049, Bodø, Norway

    Carlos Frederico C. Lanes

  3. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, CP 474, 96201-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

    Juliana Sandrini & Luis Fernando Marins

  4. Laboratório de Piscicultura Estuarina e Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, CP 474, 96201-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

    Marcelo Okamoto & Luís A. Sampaio

  5. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, CP 354, 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Ricardo B. Robaldo

Authors
  1. Vinicius F. Campos
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  2. Tiago Collares
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  3. João C. Deschamps
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  4. Fabiana K. Seixas
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  5. Odir A. Dellagostin
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  6. Carlos Frederico C. Lanes
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  7. Juliana Sandrini
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  8. Luis Fernando Marins
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  9. Marcelo Okamoto
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  10. Luís A. Sampaio
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  11. Ricardo B. Robaldo
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Correspondence to Vinicius F. Campos.

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Campos, V.F., Collares, T., Deschamps, J.C. et al. Identification, tissue distribution and evaluation of brain neuropeptide Y gene expression in the Brazilian flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus . J Biosci 35, 405–413 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-010-0046-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-010-0046-y

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