Abstract

Hypothalamic neurons that express neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) are thought to be critical regulators of feeding behavior and body weight. To determine whether NPY/AgRP neurons are essential in mice, we targeted the human diphtheria toxin receptor to the Agrp locus, which allows temporally controlled ablation of NPY/AgRP neurons to occur after an injection of diphtheria toxin. Neonatal ablation of NPY/AgRP neurons had minimal effects on feeding, whereas their ablation in adults caused rapid starvation. These results suggest that network-based compensatory mechanisms can develop after the ablation of NPY/AgRP neurons in neonates but do not readily occur when these neurons become essential in adults.

Keywords

Neuropeptide Y receptorDiphtheria toxinInternal medicineEndocrinologyAblationBiologyNeuroscienceReceptorFeeding behaviorOrexigenicNeuropeptideMedicineToxinGenetics

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Publication Info

Year
2005
Type
article
Volume
310
Issue
5748
Pages
683-685
Citations
1087
Access
Closed

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Serge Luquet, Francisco A. Perez, Thomas S. Hnasko et al. (2005). NPY/AgRP Neurons Are Essential for Feeding in Adult Mice but Can Be Ablated in Neonates. Science , 310 (5748) , 683-685. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1115524

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DOI
10.1126/science.1115524