Damage to stress-related nerve inputs to the middle hypothalamus changes normal and sugar-induced signals for hunger-related proteins in the appetite control area

Microinjection of a selective NE/E immunotoxin significantly increased basal AGRP and NPY mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.

• Glucoprivation is associated with increased expression of NPY and AGRP mRNAs in the arcuate nucleus.
• Activation of hindbrain glucoreceptor cells is linked to stimulated food intake during glucoprivation.
• The loss of dbetah-immunoreactive terminals in the ARC did not cause nonspecific damage.
• Hindbrain catecholaminergic neurons likely contribute to basal expression levels of NPY and AGRP.
• These neurons may mediate the response of NPY and AGRP to conditions of low glucose.

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