EFFECTS OF A HIGH FAT DIET ON POMC, AGRP AND MC4R GENE EXPRESSION IN THE ARCUATE NUCLEUS AND PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS by KARI

EXPRESSION IN THE ARCUATE NUCLEUS AND PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS by KARI ELIZABETH BOLT (Under the direction of Silvia Giraudo) ABSTRACT This study investigated the levels of mRNA of POMC, AgRP and MC4R in the arcuate nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in thirty Sprague Dawley rats fed a low fat diet or a high fat diet over the course of 12 weeks. The HF group had higher levels of POMC (p=0.013) and AgRP (p=0.001) in the ARC after 7 weeks of feeding. The HF group did have higher levels of MC4R (p=0.038) in the PVN after 12 weeks of feeding. POMC and AgRP mRNA expression in the ARC seemed to increase and decrease in a similar pattern during high fat feeding, while the varying levels of MC4R mRNA expression in the PVN seems to be inversely related to AgRP and POMC expression in the ARC. This may indicate a link in regulation or a breakdown energy balance that supports a state positive energy balance.