A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase phosphodiesterase 3B-cyclic AMP pathway in hypothalamic action of leptin on feeding.

Using male Sprague-Dawley rats implanted with third intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulae, we found that cilostamide, a phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitor, (i) reversed the established effects of leptin on food intake and body weight, (ii) blocked, at the hypothalamic level, the leptin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and (iii) blocked the DNA binding of p-Stat3. Additionally, ICV administration of leptin increased hypothalamic phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and PDE3B activities and decreased cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration. These results indicate that a PI3K-PDE3B-cAMP pathway interacting with the Janus kinase 2 (Jak2)-Stat3 pathway constitutes a critical component of leptin signaling in the hypothalamus.