OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of @entity712 (HF; 16weeks post left coronary artery ligation) on the brain's orexin (ORX) and related neuropeptide systems. METHODS: Indicators of cardiac function, including the percent fractional shortening (%FS) left ventricular posterior wall shortening velocity (LVPWSV) were assessed via echocardiography at 16weeks post @entity583 or sham treatment in male Lewis @entity35 (n=5/group). Changes in gene expression in HF versus control (CON) groups were quantified by real-time PCR in the hypothalamus, amygdala and dorsal pons. RESULTS: HF significantly reduced both the %FS and LVPWSV when compared to CON animals (P<0.02). In the hypothalamus ORX gene expression was significantly reduced in HF and correlated with changes in cardiac function when compared to CON (P<0.02). No significant changes in hypothalamic ORX receptor (type 1 or type 2) gene expression were identified. Alternatively hypothalamic melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) gene expression was significantly upregulated in HF animals and negatively correlated with LVPWSV (P<0.006). In both the amygdala and dorsal pons ORX type 2 receptor expression was significantly down-regulated in HF compared to CON. ORX receptor type 1, @entity3318 and @entity3318 type 1 and type 2 receptor expressions were unchanged by HF in all brain regions analyzed. CONCLUSION: These observations support previous work demonstrating that @entity65 modulates the ORX system and identify that in the case of chronic HF the ORX system is altered in parallel with changes in MCH expression but independent of any significant changes in the central @entity3318 system. This raises the new possibility that ORX and MCH systems may play an important role in the pathophysiology of HF.

XXXX alters orexin and melanin concentrating hormone but not corticotrophin releasing hormone-related gene expression in the brain of male Lewis @entity35 .

@entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['chronic heart failure'] @entity3318 :: ('81648(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['CRH'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rats'] @entity583 :: ('MESH:D009203', 'Disease') :: ['myocardial infarction'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['cardiovascular disease']
@entity712 :: (MESH:D006333,Disease) :: ['Chronic heart failure']
