RF amide-related peptide 3 (RFRP-3) is a reproductive inhibitor and an endogenous
orexigenic neuropeptide that may be involved in energy homeostasis. In this study,
we evaluated the effect of acute or chronic RFRP-3 treatment (administered via intraperitoneal
injection) on the food intake, meal microstructure and weight of rats, as well as
the mechanism through which RFRP-3 is involved in glucose metabolism in the pancreas
and glucose disposal tissues of rat in vivo. Our results showed that the intraperitoneal
administration of RFRP-3 to rats resulted in marked body mass increased, hyperphagia,
hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, hypoinsulinism, hyperglucagon,
and insulin resistance, as well as significant increases in the size of pancreatic
islets and the inflammatory reaction. Thus, we strongly assert that RFRP-3 as a novel
neuroendocrine regulator involved in blood glucose homeostasis.
