Agouti-related peptide–expressing neurons are mandatory for feeding

E Gropp, M Shanabrough, E Borok, AW Xu… - Nature …, 2005 - nature.com
E Gropp, M Shanabrough, E Borok, AW Xu, R Janoschek, T Buch, L Plum, N Balthasar…
Nature neuroscience, 2005nature.com
Multiple hormones controlling energy homeostasis regulate the expression of neuropeptide
Y (NPY) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
Nevertheless, inactivation of the genes encoding NPY and/or AgRP has no impact on food
intake in mice. Here we demonstrate that induced selective ablation of AgRP-expressing
neurons in adult mice results in acute reduction of feeding, demonstrating direct evidence for
a critical role of these neurons in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
Abstract
Multiple hormones controlling energy homeostasis regulate the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Nevertheless, inactivation of the genes encoding NPY and/or AgRP has no impact on food intake in mice. Here we demonstrate that induced selective ablation of AgRP-expressing neurons in adult mice results in acute reduction of feeding, demonstrating direct evidence for a critical role of these neurons in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
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