Analysis of function of GABAB systems in the arcuate nucleus in energy balance

用Cre-loxP系统敲除POMC神经元GABA_B受体基因，建立了POMC神经元GABA_B受体基因敲除小鼠模型。当从4周龄开始喂食高脂肪饮食12周时，与野生型小鼠相比，敲除小鼠的附睾白色脂肪组织重量以及体重增加。此外，与野生型小鼠相比，敲除小鼠的血液胰岛素和瘦素水平增加。因此，我们的数据表明，GABA_B受体在POMC神经元中起着重要的作用，在防止肥胖的发生和发展。

We have made mice in which GABA_B receptor gene is knocked out exclusively in the POMC neurons using Cre-loxP system. The weight of epididymal white adipose tissues as well as body weight was increased in the knock-out mice compared to wild-type mice when they were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks from the age of 4 weeks. In addition, the levels of blood insulin and leptin were increased in the knockout mice compared to wild-type mice. Thus, our data suggest that GABA_B receptors in the POMC neurons play an important role in preventing the onset and progress of obesity.