NPY/AgRP Neurons Are Essential for Feeding in Adult Mice but Can Be Ablated in Neonates.
Luquet, Serge; Perez, Francisco A.; Hnasko, Thomas S.; Palmiter, Richard D. *
[Report] Science. 310(5748):683-685, October 28, 2005.

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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.

Copyright (C) 2005 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science