GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 RECEPTOR (GLP1-R) MESSENGER-RNA IN THE RAT HYPOTHALAMUS

GLP-1 has been shown to dramatically reduce food intake in fasted rats and is thought to exert its effects by modulating neuronal function i n the hypothalamus. To date, little is known about the distribution of GLP1-R and its mRNA in the rodent hypothalamus. The purpose of the pr esent study was to utilize in situ hybridization histochemistry to det ermine the anatomical distribution of GLP1-R mRNA in the rat hypothala mus. The results of these studies revealed an extensive distribution o f GLP1-R mRNA throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the hypothalamus ; with a dense accumulation of labeled cells in the supraoptic, parave ntricular, and arcuate nuclei. Additional labeled cells were also dete cted in medial and lateral preoptic areas, periventricular nucleus, ve ntral division of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral hyp othalamus, and dorsomedial nucleus. The results of these in situ hybri dization histochemical studies have provided detailed and novel inform ation about the distribution of GLP1-R mRNA in the rat hypothalamus. I n addition, this morphological data provides important information abo ut the neuronal systems modulated by GLP-1 and their potential role in feeding behavior.