Submitted on May 30, 2008
Revised on June 16, 2008
Accepted on June 17, 2008
Central Lactate Metabolism Regulates Food Intake
Carol K.L. Lam, Madhu Chari, Penny Y.T. Wang, and Tony K.T. Lam1*
1 University Health Network & University of Toronto
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tony.lam{at}uhnres.utoronto.ca.
Central nervous system regulates food intake (FI) and body weight (BW), but the associated mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here we report that central injections of lactate reduced FI and BW in rodents. Inhibition of central lactate metabolism to pyruvate with lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate abolished the central effects of lactate on FI and BW. Conversely, central injections of pyruvate recapitulated the effects of lactate. Finally, inhibition of central lactate metabolism prevented the ability of circulating lactate to lower FI and BW. Together, the data indicate that activation of central lactate metabolism lowers FI and BW.
