Figure 3.

Subpopulation of Pomc differentially modulates body weight and adiposity in male and female mice. (A,B) Body weight (male, F_3,20 = 114.35, P < 0.001; female F_3,19 = 60.80, P < 0.001), (C, F, G) fat mass (male F_3,20 = 9.43, P < 0.001; female F_3,22 = 42.04, P < 0.001), (H–J) gonadal white adipocyte diameter (male F_3,14 = 13.98, P < 0.001; female F_3,13 = 11.87, P < 0.001) were increased in ARC Pomc null (Pomc^NEO) mice and normalized by restoration of Pomc in 5-HT_2CR neurons (Pomc^5-HT2CR) in male but not female mice. However, female Pomc^NEO mice still exhibited significantly greater body weight and fat mass, but not adipocyte size, compared with Pomc^5-HT2CR mice. (D, E) Both male and female Pomc^NEO mice exhibited significantly greater lean mass compared to Pomc^5-HT2CR mice and controls. Scale bar, 2000 μm *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 compared to control Pomc^WT and 5-HT_2CR^CRE siblings, except where noted in D, E, G and I.