LXR activation increases the expression of GnRH AND αMSH in the rat hypothalamus in vivo

The effects of the LXR agonists were then tested in vivo. Rats were injected ICV into the third ventricle with either T0901317 or GW3965 (2.5 μg/5 μL ICV) and after 3.5 h or 24 h the hypothalami were dissected out and rapidly frozen for analysis. αMSH and GnRH expression was significantly increased after 3.5 h of T0901317 treatment. Anterior/posterior hypothalamic ratio increases for αMSH expression and decreases for GnRH expression after 24 h of LXR activation. Altogether these results show that LXR activation affects the expression of GnRH and αMSH, suggesting that LXR in the hypothalamus is capable of modulating hypothalamic responses related to appetite, sexual behavior and reproductive functions.