The influence of 48 h food deprivation on the levels of catecholamines was investigated in different hypothalamic and telencephalic nuclei of the rat brain. There were on changes in the levels of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) in the lateral hypothalamic area, dorsomedial nucleus, medial preoptic area and in nucleus of diagonal band (septum). On the other hand we observed a statistically ...

In the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, neurons that produce the neuropeptides NPY and AgRP play a vital role in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. In this issue, Wu et al. (2009) show that these neurons modulate feeding behavior in mice by providing GABAergic input to the parabrachial nucleus in the brainstem.

Neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus relay and translate important cues from the periphery into the central nervous system. However, the gene regulatory program directing their development remains poorly understood. Here, we report that the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Isl1 is expressed in several subpopulations of developing arcuate neurons and plays crucial roles in their fate ...

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the endogenous melanocortin receptor antagonist, agouti gene-related protein (AGRP), coexist in the arcuate nucleus, and both exert orexigenic effects. The present study aimed primarily at determining the brain distribution of AGRP. AGRP mRNA-expressing cells were limited to the arcuate nucleus, representing a major subpopulation (95%) of the NPY neurons, which also was...

Introduction: Arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) is an inhibitor of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and an appetizer. Kisspeptin is a stimulator of GnRH and a regulator of energy metabolism. The objectives of the present study were to compare the effect of long term malnutrition on expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and Ki...

Background: Comparison of the effect of lactation on expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and KiSS-1 mRNA in arcuate nucleus (ARC) of hypothalamus in lactating and nonlactating rat Materials and Methods: Fourteen rats of the Sprague- Dawley strain were randomly allotted into three groups. The non-lactating rats (n=5) were separated from their pups immediately upon...

Introduction: Arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) and kisspeptin are believed to be inhibitor and stimulator of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, respectively. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of lactation on the expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and KiSS-1 mRNA in arcuate nucleus (ARC) of hypothalamus...