Novel expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y during postnatal development in the rat

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a potent orexigenic peptide. In the normal adult ra t, hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression is limited to the arcuate nucleus (ARH) . The purpose of this study was to characterize the developmental expressio n of NPY mRNA in the hypothalamus of the rat. In contrast to the normal adu lt rat, NPY mRNA was observed in the ARH, the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucl eus (DMH) and the perifornical region (PFR) during development NPY mRNA exp ression in all three regions increased progressively from postnatal days 0- 4 (P0-4) to reach maximum levels at P16 and subsequently decreased to near adult levels by P30. The unique expression of NPY mRNA in the PFR and DMH m ay be important in establishing the proper management of energy homeostasis and body weight in the adult animal. NeuroReport 11:1075-1080 (C) 2000 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins.