The ketone body β-hydroxybutyric acid influences agouti-related peptide expression via AMP-activated protein kinase in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells

β-Hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) acts in the brain to influence feeding behaviour, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. GT1-7 hypothalamic cells expressing orexigenic agouti-related peptide (AGRP) were used to study the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway known to integrate dietary and hormonal signals for food intake regulation. In a 25 mM glucose culture medium, BHBA increased intracellular calcium concentrations and the...