Neuropeptide Y in noradrenergic neurons induces obesity in transgenic mouse models

•Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in noradrenergic neurons was studied with transgenic mice.•Overexpression of noradrenergic NPY induces obesity and metabolic disorders.•The mechanisms of obesity include direct adipogenic and lipogenic effects of NPY.•Additionally sympathetic tone is decreased and endocannabinoid activity increased.•Findings are of relevance to human metabolic disease associated with elevated NPY.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in noradrenergic neurons plays an important role in modulating the release and effects of catecholamines in a prolonged stress response. Among other functions, it controls energy metabolism. Transgenic expression of Npy in noradrenergic neurons in mice allowed showing that it is critical for diet- and stress-induced gain in fat mass. When overexpressed, NPY in noradrenergic neurons increases adiposity in gene-dose-dependent fashion, and leads to metabolic disorders such as impaired glucose tolerance. However, the mechanisms of obesity seem to be different in mice heterozygous and homozygous for the Npy transgene. While in heterozygous mice the adipogenic effect of NPY is important, in homozygous mice inhibition of sympathetic tone leading to decreased lipolytic activity and impaired brown fat function, as well as increased endocannabinoid levels contribute to obesity. The mouse model provides novel insight to the mechanisms of human diseases with increased NPY due to chronic stress or gain-of-function gene variants, and a tool for development of novel therapeutics.