Effects of palatability-induced hyperphagia and food restriction on mRNA levels of neuropeptide-Y in the arcuate nucleus.

This study examined the effect of feeding either a bland cornstarch-based diet (BCD) or a highly palatable, high fat diet containing sucrose (HPD) on hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) gene expression for neuropeptide-Y (NPY). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either BCD ad libitum, HPD ad libitum, HPD pair-fed to the caloric intake of the BCD, or the HPD at 60% of ad libitum HPD intake for 7 days. Animals receiving the HPD ad libitum consumed more calories and gained more weight than animals receiving the BCD (P<0.001). The HPD did not affect ARC NPY mRNA levels, whether the subjects were allowed to overeat or pair-fed to the BCD (P>0.05). However, feeding the HPD at 60% of ad libitum intake of the HPD, increased NPY mRNA levels in the ARC relative to the other treatments (P<0.01). The present data are consistent with the view that NPY in ARC responds to energy deficits rather than to hyperphagia stimuli related to palatability.