Altered Monoamine Metabolism in the Hypothalamus of the Genetically Obese Yellow (Ay/a) Mouse

Changes in hypothalamic monoamine metabolism were investigated in the genetically obese yellow (Ay/a) mouse. At the age of 6 weeks when there was no difference in body weight between black (a/a) and yellow (Ay/a) mice, the contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and their main metabolites (MHPG, DOPAC) were already significantly reduced in yellow (Ay/a) mice. Reduction of 5-hydroxystryptamine (5-HT) level and an increasing 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio has been observed