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Sexually dimorphic expression of prepro-orexin mRNA in the rat hypothalamus
Olaf Jöhren1, Steffi J Neidert, Marco Kummer
1Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Clinic Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538, Lübeck, Germany. joehren@medinf.mu-luebeck.de
Abstract:
The neuropeptides orexin A and B are expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area and are involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and arousal. Recent results showed gender differences in the expression of orexin receptor subtypes in rats. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA expression of prepro-orexin (PPO) in the hypothalamus of male and female rats using quantitative real-time PCR. We found significantly higher levels of PPO mRNA in the hypothalamus of female rats compared to male rats. Our study indicates a sex-dependent regulation of hypothalamic PPO expression and suggests gender-specific functions of orexins.