Measurement of nitric oxide synthase and its mRNA in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice.
Recent studies have suggested a role for nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of food intake. The obese (ob/ob) mouse is a genetic model of obesity. Previously, it has been demonstrated that ob/ob mice show a marked weight reduction when treated with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In the studies reported here, we demonstrate increased levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and its mRNA in the hypothalamus of genetically obese (ob/ob) mice compared to their lean littermate controls (ob/c). NOS levels were 0.016 +/- 0.001 nmol/mg/min in ob/ob compared to 0.009 +/- 0.001 in ob/c (p < 0.01) and NOS mRNA was 32.0 +/- 5.0 pg NOS mRNA/mg total RNA in ob/ob compared to 12.4 +/- 4.0 in ob/c (p < 0.05). These studies further support the possibility of a role for nitric oxide in the regulation of food intake.
Morley
J E
JE
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, St. Louis VA Medical Center, MO, USA.
Kumar
V B
VB
Mattammal
M
M
Villareal
D T
DT
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase