| First Author | Luquet S | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 310 |
| Issue | 5748 | Pages | 683-5 |
| PubMed ID | 16254186 | Mgi Jnum | J:132360 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3775829 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1115524 |
| Citation | Luquet S, et al. (2005) NPY/AgRP neurons are essential for feeding in adult mice but can be ablated in neonates. Science 310(5748):683-5 |
| abstractText | 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. |
