This study aims to clarify the effects of exercise on levels of appetite regulatory hormones in plasma and hypothalamus of obese rats. Diet-induced obese rats undergo short- (40 min) and long-term (40 min, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) exercises. The rats ran at a speed of 20 m/min on a 5° slope treadmill. Rats undergoing short-term exercise were divided into C, E0, E1, E3, E12, and E24. Rats undergoing long-term exercise (LE) were compared to long-term control (LC). Concentrations of ghrelin, obestatin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were measured using radio immuno-assay. Expression of ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a), putative obestatin receptor (GPR-39), and NPY in the hypothalamus was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. After short-term exercise, the plasma concentrations of ghrelin and obestatin were not changed, but NPY decreased. Ghrelin and obestatin in the hypothalamus decreased, and recovered 12 until 24 h. NPY increased and recovered after 24 h. Expression of GHSR-1a and NPY was not changed and GPR-39 was not observed. In LE, these changes are different in plasma and hypothalamus. It would be concluded appetite and body weight of obese rats are decreased by exercise through reduced level of ghrelin in the hypothalamus. Obestatin seems to have no effect in exercise-induced change in appetite.
