Figure 4. Adult Lepr^ΔVglut2 animals show an obese phenotype.

(A–D) Micrographs of in situ hybridization showing colocalization between Lepr (cyan) and Slc17a6 (magenta) gene expression. Dorsomedial region of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHdm) in control Lepr^Cre (A), but no colocalization in experimental Lepr^ΔVglut2 (B) females. Insets show high magnification images for the area in the dashed rectangles (C, D). Ventral premammillary nucleus (PMv) at large magnification in control Lepr^Cre (C), and experimental Lepr^ΔVglut2 (D). Scale bars: 50 µm for A, B and 20 µm for insets and C, D. (E) Body mass in adult Lepr^Cre and Lepr^ΔVglut2 males (genotype main effect; F_1,10 = 13.1; p = 0.0047, post hoc comparison: week 20: t₁₄₀ = 3.27; p = 0.019; week 26: t₁₄₀ = 5.47; p < 0.0001). (F) Body mass in adult Lepr^Cre and Lepr^ΔVglut2 females (genotype main effect; F_1,11 = 4.34; p = 0.06; post hoc comparisons: week 23: t₁₅₄ = 4.05; p = 0.0011; week 25: t₁₅₄ = 3.1; p = 0.03; week 26: t₁₅₄ = 5.59; p < 0.0001). The arrow indicates the age at which estrus cycling follow-up finished in this cohort. (G) Body composition in males (fat mass: t₉ = 3.77; p = 0.004) and (H) in females (fat mass: t₁₁ = 3.7; p = 0.0035). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.