Central prostaglandins in food intake regulation.

Prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and PGD(2), produced in the mammalian central nervous system, are known to have a variety of central actions on sleep, body temperature, and pain response via G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors. We found that centrally administered PGE(2) suppressed food intake via the EP(4) receptor, whereas PGD(2) increased food intake via the DP(1) receptor coupled to the neuropeptide Y Y(1) receptor. In this review, we summarize roles of central PGs in food intake regulation and discuss the relation between PGs and neuropeptides controlling food intake.