You are investigating the potential of a new drug to be useful in treating obesity. Specifically you are hoping that the drug either stimulates anorexigenic peptide release or inhibits orexigenic peptide release. You discover that addition of the drug to water consumed by your test animals results in inhibition of glucose oxidation within the hypothalamus. Based upon your findings what peptide would you most likely expect to see increased in these test animals?
A) agouti-related peptide, AgRP
B) cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, CART
C) galanin
D) melanin-concentrating hormone, MCH
E) neuropeptide Y, NPY

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The activation of NPY neurons in the hypothalamus exhibits fuel source specificity in that oxidation of glucose and fatty acids exert differing effects. Glucose oxidation signals ample energy supply and thus results in reduced NPY expression. On the other hand, fatty acid oxidation has limited, if any, effect on NPY release. Inhibition of glucose oxidation results in dramatically increased NPY release even in the presence of fatty acid metabolism. Thus, a compound that blocks glucose oxidation in the hypothalamus would be expected to result in a significant increase in the level of NPY expression.

You Are Investigating the Potential of a New Drug to Be