Neurochemical phenotype of hypothalamic neurons showing Fos expression 23 h after intracranial AgRP.

Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is coexpressed with neuropeptide Y (NPY) in a population of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus and stimulates food intake for up to 7 days if injected intracerebroventricularly. The prolonged food intake stimulation does not seem to depend on continued competition at the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), because the relatively specific MC4R agonist MTII regains its ability to suppress food intake 24 h after AgRP injection. Intracerebroventricular AgRP also stimulates c-Fos expression 24 h after injection in several brain areas, so the neurons exhibiting delayed Fos expression might be particularly important in feeding behavior.