Hypothalamic lesions increase levels of neuropeptide Y mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of mice.
A recent study demonstrated that hypothalamic lesions induced by goldthioglucose (GTG) in mice produced an increase in neuronal immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Since NPY is a potent stimulator of feeding, this increase represented a potential explanation for the hyperphagia seen after GTG lesions. To examine whether or not this increase in NPY immunoreactivity was accompanied by an increase in the mRNA for NPY, in situ hybridization histochemistry for NPY mRNA in control and in lesioned mice was performed. A 47% increase in NPY mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus was observed in lesioned mice compared with controls, suggesting that an increased expression of the gene for NPY contributes to elevations in hypothalamic NPY after lesioning. This elevation in NPY may, in turn, relate to mechanisms provoking hyperphagia.
Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059.
J K
JK
Young
J C
JC
McKenzie
L S
LS
Brady
M
M
Herkenham
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D001345:Autoradiography; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006051:Aurothioglucose