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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats
Published on: June 27, 2014
TTF-1, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, regulates feeding behavior in the rat hypothalamus
Jae Geun Kim1, Il Seong Nam-Goong, Chang Ho Yun
1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, South Korea.
Abstract:
TTF-1 is a member of the NKx family of homeodomain genes, and is required for morphogenesis and fetal diencephalon development. Our previous studies have shown that TTF-1 expression is maintained in some regions of the postnatal rat brain and transactivates the gene expression of several neuropeptides. In this study, a potential role for TTF-1 in the regulation of feeding behavior was identified. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that TTF-1 is present in several hypothalamic nuclei of the adult rat brain involved in the control of feeding behavior. Food deprivation for two days markedly increased the hypothalamic levels of TTF-1 mRNA and protein. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense TTF-1 oligodeoxynucleotide significantly decreased TTF-1 protein abundance in the hypothalamus. This TTF-1 decrease was followed by a significant decrease in neuropeptide Y mRNA content and an increase in proopiomelanocortin mRNA content, and in turn resulted in a decrease of the animal's food intake and body weight. These results suggest a novel role for TTF-1 in the regulation of feeding behavior in the rat hypothalamus.
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