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Factors like age, health and genetics are responsible for the correlation between a mother’s nutrition habits and metabolism has been proved to impact the growth of her child. Researchers at OHSU in Portland, Oregon, believe the factors are very important.
The research team, led by Jae W. Lee, Ph.D., has demonstrated that two neurons key to growth and metabolism, GHRH and AgRP are developmentally interconnected. Located in the hypothalamus region of the brain, within a grouping of neurons known as the arcuate nucleus, GHRH, or growth hormone-release hormone, neurons orchestrate body growth and maturation.
Meanwhile, AgRP, or Agouti-related peptide, neurons stimulate feeding and suppress energy usage. To understand how these neurons are developed, the research team cataloged various proteins expressed in the arcuate nucleus of mice and analyzed their overall function.
They found that one specific protein- DLX1 is critical for GHRH neuron development. However, it also suppresses the development of the AgRP neuron, When DLX1 was removed, the mouse’s growth was stunted, yet it appears obese. DLX1 was found to suppress the development of OTP-labeled cells that become AgRP neurons. This would suggest normal growth development, but limited blockage of energy use, resulting in a trim figure.
These findings show the relationship between GHRH and AgRP neurons in developmental lineage. The development of both neurons can be artificially preset in controlling postnatal growth.
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