{
  "id": 3806682,
  "title": "Hypothalamic neurosecretory protein GM causes fat deposition and suppresses gonadal maturation in Japanese quail",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/hypothalamic-neurosecretory-protein-gm-causes-fat-deposition-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.24.746428v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japanese quail provide insight into the complex interplay between central regulation of energy homeostasis and reproductive investment. A specific hypothalamic factor, NPGM, has been found to influence the balance between lipid storage and gonadal maturation during sexual maturation in both male and female birds. Researchers administered NPGM intracerebroventricularly to quails for 13 days, monitoring changes in body mass, food and water intake, and various metabolic indicators. The results showed that NPGM led to increased fat deposition, particularly in subcutaneous and abdominal fat stores, and was linked to reduced gonadal maturation in both sexes. Males, for example, experienced hyperphagia, elevated water intake, and an enlarged liver, pancreas, and heart, along with increased serum and hepatic triglyceride levels and reduced hepatic expression of lipid metabolism genes. In females, fat accumulation occurred without hyperphagia or hepatic triglyceride increase, paired with decreased hepatic expression of lipid metabolic genes. Additionally, there were sex-dependent metabolic phenotypes, with males showing increased body mass gain, alterations in hepatic and pancreatic tissue, and females exhibiting reduced adipose tissue expression of specific enzymes. The study also revealed changes in hypothalamic expression of genes associated with feeding and reproduction, such as AGRP, NPY, and their respective concentrations, suggesting that NPGM plays a crucial role in modulating energy allocation during sexual maturation. This research highlights the role of NPGM as a neuroendocrine regulator of energy allocation in Japanese quails, offering valuable insights into the hormonal and metabolic mechanisms governing these processes.",
  "summary": "Introduction: Central regulation of energy homeostasis is essential for balancing lipid storage and reproductive investment; however, the hypothalamic factors governing this trade-off remain incompletely defined in birds. Neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM), an 83-amino acid hypothalamic factor, was investigated for its role in energy allocation during sexual maturation in Japanese quail (Coturnix…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}