Top: Change in body weight in rats following administration of control vector (closed squares) or rAAV-leptin antagonist to MBH (rAAV-Leptin Antg MBH, open circles) or VTA (triangles). The rAAV-leptin antagonist or control vectors were administered at day 0 in rats maintained on a standard diet. For clarity, the rats administered either control vector into the MBH or into the VTA were combined into a single control group (rAAV-Control). Delta body weight was significantly different with leptin antagonist treatment. (P<0.005, one-way ANOVA) beginning at day 7 (*P<0.01, MBH; *P<0.05, VTA by Newman-Keuls post-hoc analysis). Values represent the mean ± SE of 13 (control), 7 (rAAV-Antg MBH), or 8 (rAAV-Antg VTA) rats.
Bottom: Daily food consumption following administration of control vector (closed squares) or rAAV-leptin antagonist to MBH (open circles) or VTA (triangles). Inset: Cumulative food intake was significantly different with rAAV-leptin antagonist treatment (MBH or VTA) from day 9 through day 19. *P<0.0001, one-way ANOVA; P<0.001 by Newman-Keuls post-hoc analysis for difference from control.