Isabella Kanzler

The Role of Pyy in Regulating Appetite: Pyy 1-36 Versus Pyy 3-36 Isabella Kanzler

Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional problem in the industrial countries, which is going to be the futures predispose in the development of diseases like type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases. It is essential to understand the physiology of normal appetite regulation in order to design an effective drug to treat the increase of obesity. The investigated peptide, PYY, exists in two forms, PYY1-36 and PYY3-36. Today there are 5 different receptors known where both forms bind to, but with different affinity. PYY3-36 has its highest affinity to the so called Y2 receptor. Both peptides play a crucial role in regulating appetite. PYY3-36 inhibits feeding in rodents, non-human primates and humans. The hypothalamus and brain stem are thought to be the brain areas responsible for regulating appetite. The goal of this work was to determine the activation of neurons in forebrain and hindbrain sites containing Y2 receptors and linked to control of food intake, when injecting PYY1-36 and PYY3-36. Wild type-like mice and Y2ko mice received a dose of PYY1-36 and PYY3-36 and the c-Fos expressing neurons were determined.