Long term malnutrition and mRNAs expression of RFRP-3 and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus of female ovariectomized rats

Introduction: Arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) is an inhibitor of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and an appetizer. Kisspeptin is a stimulator of GnRH and a regulator of energy metabolism. The objectives of the present study were to compare the effect of long term malnutrition on expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and KiSS-1 mRNA in arcuate nucleus (ARC) of rat hypothalamus. Methods: Sixteen female ovariectomized rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were randomly allotted into three groups. After 2 weeks recovery period, one group was fed with perfect diet (rat standard feed) and the other group was fed with the half dietary of perfect diet for 14 days. The control group (n=4) were sacrificed 2 weeks after surgery (day 0). Relative expression of RFRP-3 and KiSS-1 mRNAs (compared to the control group) were measured using real-time PCR method in DMH and ARC of hypothalamus, respectively. Results: Mean and SE of relative expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in DMH in the half dietary rats was higher than that of the perfect diet ones (P=0.01). Relative expression of KiSS-1 mRNA in ARC was not different between two groups of rats (P=0.1). Conclusion: Long term malnutrition (2 weeks) increased RFRP-3 mRNA expression in DMH of rats hypothalamus, but had no effect on KiSS-1 mRNA expression in the ARC nucleus of ovariectomized female rats.