Neuropeptide Y conjugated to saporin alters anxiety-like behavior when injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala or basomedial hypothalamus in BALB/cJ mice

▶ Saporin, when conjugated to NPY (NPY-SAP), kills cells expression NPY receptors. ▶ Injecting NPY-SAP into the central amygdala (CeA) reduces local Y1 receptor levels. ▶ Injecting NPY-SAP into the CeA increases anxiety-like behavior. ▶ NPY-SAP may be a useful tool to study the central NPY circuitry modulating anxiety.