Changes in diurnal sympathoadrenal balance and pituitary hormone secretion in subjects with Leu7Pro polymorphism in the prepro-neuropeptide Y.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an important neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has a regulatory role in cardiovascular and metabolic functions and control of hormone release. The leucine 7 to proline 7 (Leu7Pro) polymorphism in the signal peptide of prepro-NPY is associated with increased blood lipid levels, accelerated atherosclerosis, and diabetic retinopathy. This study elucidated the role of this polymorphism in diurnal cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal functions of healthy subjects during rest. The two study groups comprised individuals with different genotype, but they were matched for age and body mass index. Subjects with the Leu7Pro polymorphism had significantly lower plasma NPY and norepinephrine concentrations, lower insulin concentrations, higher glucose concentrations, and lower insulin-glucose ratio in plasma than the controls. Heart rate was significantly higher during daytime in the subjects with Leu7Pro polymorphism. Furthermore, these subjects had significantly lower prolactin concentrations in plasma. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum free fatty acid and plasma leptin, ACTH, cortisol, LH, FSH, TSH, free thyroxin, and melatonin concentrations were similar during the 24-h period, compared with controls. These results show that genetically determined changes in NPY levels lead to widespread consequences in the control of sympathoadrenal, metabolic, and hormonal balance in healthy subjects.