Open AccessFTO knockdown in rat ventromedial hypothalamus does not affect energy balance
Author(s) -
Gestel Margriet A.,
Sanders Loek E.,
Jong Johannes W.,
Luijendijk Mieneke C. M.,
Adan Roger A. H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12152
Subject(s) - gene knockdown , fto gene , hypothalamus , endocrinology , medicine , obesity , biology , energy balance , single nucleotide polymorphism , chemistry , gene , genotype , genetics , ecology
Single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNP s) clustered in the first intron of the fat mass and obesity‐associated ( FTO ) gene has been associated with obesity. FTO expression is ubiquitous, with particularly high levels in the hypothalamic area of the brain. To investigate the region‐specific role of FTO , AAV technology was applied to knockdown FTO in the ventromedial hypothalamus ( VMH ). No effect of FTO knockdown was observed on bodyweight or parameters of energy balance. Animals were exposed twice to an overnight fast, followed by a high‐fat high‐sucrose ( HFHS ) diet for 1 week. FTO knockdown did not result in a different response to the diets. A region‐specific role for FTO in the VMH in the regulation of energy balance could not be found.