QRFP-Deficient mice are hypophagic, lean, hypoactive and exhibit increased anxiety-Like behavior

Kitaro Okamoto, Miwako Yamasaki, Keizo Takao, Shingo Soya, Monica Iwasaki, Koh Sasaki, Kenta Magoori, Iori Sakakibara, Tsuyoshi Miyakawa, Michihiro Mieda, Masahiko Watanabe, Juro Sakai, Masashi Yanagisawa, Takeshi Sakurai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

How the hypothalamus transmits hunger information to other brain regions to govern whole brain function to orchestrate feeding behavior has remained largely unknown. Our present study suggests the importance of a recently found lateral hypothalamic neuropeptide, QRFP, in this signaling. Qrfp-/- mice were hypophagic and lean, and exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, and were hypoactive in novel circumstances as compared with wild type littermates. They also showed decreased wakefulness time in the early hours of the dark period. Histological studies suggested that QRFP neurons receive rich innervations from neurons in the arcuate nucleus which is a primary region for sensing the body's metabolic state by detecting levels of leptin, ghrelin and glucose. These observations suggest that QRFP is an important mediator that acts as a downstream mediator of the arcuate nucleus and regulates feeding behavior, mood, wakefulness and activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0164716
JournalPloS one
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • General

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