Search for an Endogenous Bombesin-Like Receptor 3 (BRS-3) Ligand Using Parabiotic Mice

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 12;10(11):e0142637. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142637. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS-3) is an X-linked G protein-coupled receptor involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Brs3 null (Brs3-/y) mice become obese. To date, no high affinity endogenous ligand has been identified. In an effort to detect a circulating endogenous BRS-3 ligand, we generated parabiotic pairs of mice between Brs3-/y and wild type (WT) mice or between WT controls. Successful parabiosis was demonstrated by circulatory dye exchange. The Brs3-/y-WT and WT-WT pairs lost similar weight immediately after surgery. After 9 weeks on a high fat diet, the Brs3-/y-WT pairs weighed more than the WT-WT pairs. Within the Brs3-/y-WT pairs, the Brs3-/y mice had greater adiposity than the WT mice, but comparable lean and liver weights. Compared to WT mice in WT-WT pairs, Brs3-/y and WT mice in Brs3-/y-WT pairs each had greater lean mass, and the Brs3-/y mice also had greater adiposity. These results contrast to those reported for parabiotic pairs of leptin receptor null (Leprdb/db) and WT mice, where high leptin levels in the Leprdb/db mice cause the WT parabiotic partners to lose weight. Our data demonstrate that a circulating endogenous BRS-3 ligand, if present, is not sufficient to reduce adiposity in parabiotic partners of Brs3-/y mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Body Composition
  • Body Weight
  • Cross Circulation
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Parabiosis / methods*
  • Receptors, Bombesin / genetics
  • Receptors, Bombesin / metabolism*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Bombesin
  • bombesin receptor subtype 3