Search Results

You are looking at 1 - 1 of 1 items for

  • Author: Yoshihiro Nishi x
  • Refine by access: Open Access content only x
Clear All Modify Search
Hiroharu Mifune Institute of Animal Experimentation, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Hiroharu Mifune in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yuji Tajiri Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Yuji Tajiri in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yusuke Sakai Institute of Animal Experimentation, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Yusuke Sakai in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yukie Kawahara Department of Pharmacology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Yukie Kawahara in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Kento Hara Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Kento Hara in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Takahiro Sato Molecular Genetics, Life Science Institute, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Takahiro Sato in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yoshihiro Nishi Department of Physiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Yoshihiro Nishi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Akinori Nishi Department of Pharmacology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Akinori Nishi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ryouichi Mitsuzono Department of Exercise Physiology, Institute of Health and Sports Science, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Ryouichi Mitsuzono in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Tatsuyuki Kakuma Bostatistics Center, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Tatsuyuki Kakuma in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Masayasu Kojima Molecular Genetics, Life Science Institute, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan

Search for other papers by Masayasu Kojima in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

We previously reported that voluntary exercise contributed to the amelioration of abnormal feeding behavior with a concomitant restoration of ghrelin production in a rat model of obesity, suggesting a possible relationship between exercise and appetite-regulating hormones. Ghrelin is known to be involved in the brain reward circuits via dopamine neurons related to motivational properties. We investigated the relevance of ghrelin as an initiator of voluntary exercise as well as feeding behavior. The plasma ghrelin concentration fluctuates throughout the day with its peak at the beginning of the dark period in the wild-type (WT) mice with voluntary exercise. Although predominant increases in wheel running activity were observed accordant to the peak of plasma ghrelin concentration in the WT mice, those were severely attenuated in the ghrelin-knockout (GKO) mice under either ad libitum or time-restricted feeding. A single injection of ghrelin receptor agonist brought about and reproduced a marked enhancement of wheel running activity, in contrast to no effect by the continuous administration of the same drug. Brain dopamine levels (DAs) were enhanced after food consumption in the WT mice under voluntary exercise. Although the acceleration of DAs were apparently blunted in the GKO mice, they were dramatically revived after the administration of ghrelin receptor agonist, suggesting the relevance of ghrelin in the reward circuit under voluntary exercise. These findings emphasize that the surge of ghrelin plays a crucial role in the formation of motivation for the initiation of voluntary exercise possibly related to the central dopamine system.

Open access