Hypothalamic administration of sargahydroquinoic acid elevates peripheral thermogenic signaling and ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity through the sympathetic nervous system

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-10, Vol.11 (1), p.21315-16, Article 21315
• Main Authors: Kim, Doyeon, Lee, Yuna, Kim, Hyeung-Rak, Park, Yeo Jin, Hwang, Hongik, Rhim, Hyewhon, Kang, Taek, Choi, Chun Whan, Lee, Bonggi, Kim, Min Soo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/154; 631/337; 631/443; 692/163; Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Alkenes - administration & dosage; Alkenes - pharmacology; Animals; Benzoquinones - administration & dosage; Benzoquinones - pharmacology; Body temperature; Body weight; Central nervous system; Denervation; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Energy balance; Food intake; High fat diet; Homeostasis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hypothalamus; Male; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic Syndrome; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; multidisciplinary; Nervous system; Obesity; Obesity - chemically induced; Phenotypes; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Signal transduction; Sympathetic nervous system; Sympathetic Nervous System - drug effects; Thermogenesis - drug effects; Ventricle; Ventricles (cerebral); γ-Aminobutyric acid
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00074-3

Sargassum serratifolium (C. Agardh) C.Agardh, a marine brown alga, has been consumed as a food and traditional medicine in Asia. A previous study showed that the meroterpenoid-rich fraction of an ethanolic extract of S. serratifolium (MES) induced adipose tissue browning and suppressed diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome when orally supplemented. Sargahydroquinoic acid (SHQA) is a major component of MES. However, it is unclear whether SHQA regulates energy homeostasis through the central nervous system. To examine this, SHQA was administrated through the third ventricle in the hypothalamus in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice and investigated its effects on energy homeostasis. Chronic administration of SHQA into the brain reduced body weight without a change in food intake and improved metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes. Cold experiments and biochemical analyses indicated that SHQA elevated thermogenic signaling pathways, as evidenced by an increase in body temperature and UCP1 signaling in white and brown adipose tissues. Peripheral denervation experiments using 6-OHDA indicated that the SHQA-induced anti-obesity effect is mediated by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, possibly by regulating genes associated with sympathetic outflow and GABA signaling pathways. In conclusion, hypothalamic injection of SHQA elevates peripheral thermogenic signaling and ameliorates diet-induced obesity.