OPIOID PEPTIDES AND ALPHA-MELANOCYTE-STIMULATING HORMONE IN GENETICALLY-OBESE (OB-OB) MICE DURING DEVELOPMENT

Compared to littermate controls (C57BL/6J ob/?), body weights of genetically obese (ob/ob) mice are significantly higher at 1-6 months of age; the greatest percentage weight gain of the ob/ob group occurs during the first 3 months of life. Levels of pituitary immunoreactive β-endorphin and immunoreactive α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone are also significantly elevated in ob/ob animals compared to controls. However, these pharmacological differences only emerge at 4-6 months of age - 3 months after the appearance of obesity. High levels of immunoreactive endorphin in the pituitary are, therefore, more likely to be a consequence than a cause of obesity. Furthermore, numerous other neurologic abnormalities, which may or may not play a role in the obesity syndrome, are evident in ob/ob mice. Compared to controls, ob/ob total brain, hypothalamus, and pituitary weights are 11%, 16%, and 23% less, respectively. Levels of immunoreactive Leu5-enkephalin in pars nervosa are also 200% higher on ob/ob mice; this increase is apparent at 1-6 months of age and is highly correlated with changes in body weight.