Lesion of NPY Receptor-expressing Neurons in Perifornical Lateral Hypothalamus Attenuates Glucoprivic Feeding

Selective destruction of NPY-sensitive neurons in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus significantly reduces glucoprivic feeding in male and female rats.

• Glucoprivic feeding is linked to the activation of certain neurons in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus during glucose deficits.
• Lesioning NPY receptor-expressing neurons in the PeFLH using NPY-saporin resulted in decreased feeding in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG).
• The lesions did not affect other physiological responses, including locomotor activity, hyperglycemia, or corticosterone release, during glucoprivation.
• Male rats with PeFLH lesions exhibited reduced body weights and less feeding during the dark cycle, effects not observed in female rats.
• These findings suggest that the NPY pathway to the PeFLH is essential for glucoprivic feeding but not for other counterregulatory responses.

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