An anorexic lipid mediator regulated by feeding

Oleylethanolamide (OEA) is a natural analogue of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Like anandamide, OEA is produced in cells in a stimulus-dependent manner and is rapidly eliminated by enzymatic hydrolysis, suggesting a function in cellular signalling. However, OEA does not activate cannabinoid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2001-11, Vol.414 (6860), p.209-212
Main Authors: Piomelli, D, Rodríguez de Fonseca, F, Navarro, M, Gómez, R, Escuredo, L, Nava, F, Fu, J, Murillo-Rodríguez, E, Giuffrida, A, LoVerme, J, Gaetani, S, Kathuria, S, Gall, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animals
anorexia
Appetite Depressants - pharmacology
Arachidonic Acids - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Biosynthesis
Drug Tolerance
Eating - physiology
Endocannabinoids
Feeding Behavior
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Food
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humanities and Social Sciences
Hydrolysis
Intestine, Small - metabolism
letter
Lipids
multidisciplinary
Oleic Acid - biosynthesis
Oleic Acid - pharmacology
Oleic Acid - physiology
Oleic Acids
Oleylethanolamide
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Rodents
Science
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Oleylethanolamide (OEA) is a natural analogue of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Like anandamide, OEA is produced in cells in a stimulus-dependent manner and is rapidly eliminated by enzymatic hydrolysis, suggesting a function in cellular signalling. However, OEA does not activate cannabinoid receptors and its biological functions are still unknown. Here we show that, in rats, food deprivation markedly reduces OEA biosynthesis in the small intestine. Administration of OEA causes a potent and persistent decrease in food intake and gain in body mass. This anorexic effect is behaviourally selective and is associated with the discrete activation of brain regions (the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and the nucleus of the solitary tract) involved in the control of satiety. OEA does not affect food intake when injected into the brain ventricles, and its anorexic actions are prevented when peripheral sensory fibres are removed by treatment with capsaicin. These results indicate that OEA is a lipid mediator involved in the peripheral regulation of feeding.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/35102582