Prepro-orexin mRNA levels in the rat hypothalamus, and orexin receptors mRNA levels in the rat hypothalamus and adrenal gland are not influenced by the thyroid status

Abstract

Orexins are two recently discovered neuropeptides that play an important role in the regulation of food intake and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. In this work we examined the effects of thyroid hormones on prepro-OX expression in the rat hypothalamus, and OXRs expression in the rat hypothalamus and adrenal gland. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism were induced in adult male rats, and the levels of hypothalamic prepro-OX and OXRs mRNA, and adrenal OXRs mRNA were determined using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and/or in situ hybridization. Our results indicate that thyroid status affects neither prepro-OX in the hypothalamus nor hypothalamic and adrenal gland OXRs expression.