Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science of Yunnan Normal University, Kunming; 650500, China;

          College of Life Sciences of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China

The present study was aimed at examining the role of hypothalamic neuropeptides genes expression on body mass regulation under food restriction in Eothenomys miletus, body mass, food intake, serum leptin levels and hypothalamic neuropeptide Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti Aelated Peptide (AgRP), Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART) expressions were measured. Food restriction reduced body mass and body fat mass, and increased food intake. Serum leptin levels showed significant differences between control group and food restriction group, and leptin levels showed a positive correlation with body fat mass. Hypothalamic neuropeptide NPY, AgRP, POMC and CART expression showed significant different between two groups. Leptin was negatively correlated with NPY and AgRP, and positively correlated with CART and POMC.All of the results suggested that food restriction can reduce the body mass, body fat mass and leptin levels, increased food intake and hypothalamic neuropeptide expressions. Leptin may play an regulation on body mass and energy metabolism by acting on hypothalamic neuropeptide of NPY/AgRP and CART/CART pathways in E. miletus.

Keywords: Eothenomys miletus; Hypothalamic neuropeptides; Body mass; Food restriction