The role of NPY in the DMH in energy balance

神经肽Y （NPY）是一种在大脑中自然产生的物质。下丘脑是参与食欲调节的最重要的大脑区域之一。当直接注射到下丘脑时，NPY会引起剧烈的饥饿和肥胖。NPY存在于下丘脑的两个区域，ARC和DMH。ARC NPY能有效刺激食欲。然而，NPY在DMH中对食欲的调节作用尚不清楚。在肥胖中，NPY水平在ARC中降低，而在DMH中升高。我的试验数据表明，DMH中的NPY有减轻体重的作用。因此，我将确定NPY在DMH中在控制食物摄入和体重方面的作用。我假设DMH中的NPY在食欲调节中很重要。我将通过使用基因治疗技术增加和减少DMH中的NPY来研究这一点。然后，我将通过测量食物摄入量、体重和能量消耗来研究这些变化的影响。这些研究可能为食欲和体重的控制提供了令人兴奋的新见解。

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a substance occurring naturally in the brain. The hypothalamus is one of the most important brain regions involved in the regulation of appetite. When injected directly into the hypothalamus, NPY causes dramatic hunger and obesity. NPY is found in two areas of the hypothalamus, the ARC and the DMH. ARC NPY powerfully stimulates appetite. However, the role of NPY in the DMH in the regulation of appetite is unknown. In obesity, NPY levels are decreased in the ARC but increased in the DMH. My pilot data suggests NPY in the DMH acts to reduce body weight. I will therefore determine the role of NPY in the DMH in the control of food intake and body weight. I hypothesise that NPY in the DMH is important in the regulation of appetite. I will investigate this by increasing and decreasing NPY in the DMH using gene therapy techniques. I will then study the effects of these alterations by measuring food intake, body weight and energy expenditure. These studies offer a possible exciting new insight into the control of appetite and body weight.