Higher alpha-noradrenergic receptors in paraventricular nucleus of obese Zucker rats: decline after food deprivation.

Norepinephrine (NE), acting through alpha 2-noradrenergic receptors in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), has been implicated in the control of feeding behavior and body weight gain. To determine whether this hypothalamic receptor system is disturbed in genetically obese rats, the binding of radioligands to alpha 2-noradrenergic, as well as to alpha 1-noradrenergic, receptors was examined in seven hypothalamic nuclei of obese Zucker rats relative to their lean littermates. Receptor binding procedures, using the alpha 2-noradrenergic agonist [3H]p-aminoclonidine ([3H]PAC) and the alpha 1-noradrenergic antagonist [3H]prazosin, demonstrated that the obese rats, compared to the lean rats, had significantly greater alpha 2-noradrenergic and alpha 1-noradrenergic receptor binding, specifically in the PVN as opposed to other hypothalamic areas examined.