Central Resistin Enhances Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase but Reduces the Activity to Brown Adipose Tissue via Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2

Abstract

Resistin is an adipokine, originally identified in adipose tissue, and its plasma levels are elevated in obesity. Characteristics of obesity include impaired metabolic regulation and cardiovascular dysfunction, such as increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to the kidney and skeletal muscle vasculature. Resistin can affect energy homeostasis through central mechanisms that include reduced food intake and reduced thermogenesis, and can also increase lumbar SNA via a central action. The present study investigated: (i) the effect of centrally-administered resistin on SNA targeting the kidney and (ii) the intracellular signalling pathways mediating the changes in SNA innervating the kidney a..