Figure 4.

Subpopulation of Pomc modulates insulin sensitivity in male and female mice. (A,B) Plasma insulin (male, F_3,21 = 63.20, P < 0.0001; female F_3,23 = 20.33, P < 0.0001) was increased in ARC Pomc null (Pomc^NEO) mice and normalized by restoration of Pomc in 5-HT_2CR neurons (Pomc^5-HT2CR). (C,D) Fasting blood glucose was not statistically different among genotypes (male, F_3,15 = 0.70, P > 0.05; female F_3,18 = 2.30, P > 0.05). Both male (E,F) and female (G,H)Pomc^NEO mice exhibited impaired responses in an insulin tolerance test compared with control littermates, which were normalized by restoration of Pomc in 5-HT_2CR neurons (Pomc^5-HT2CR); (E,G) Insulin tolerance tests (male, F_3,104 = 33.09, P < 0.0001; female F_3,102 = 24.39, P < 0.0001) and (F,H) their respective areas under the curve (AUC) (male, F_3,18 = 18.06, P < 0.0001; female F_3,17 = 6.56, P < 0.01). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 compared to all other genotypes.