Fig. 5.

MCHR1 knockdown increases food impulsivity. a Representative images showing MCHR1 gene expression via fluorescence in situ hybridization and b relative MCHR1 gene expression (relative to Sham controls) via qPCR in CA1v in scrambled control shRNA (Scram-shRNA) or MCHR1 shRNA injected animals (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test; n = 8/group; P < 0.05); scale = 200 µm. c Body weight and d chow intake before (day 0) and after surgery in animals injected with either Scram-shRNA (n = 8), MCHR1 shRNA (n = 11), or Sham injected (n = 8); arrow indicates surgery date. e Efficiency data during the training phase in DRL 20 (before RNAi AAV injections). f–h; Student’s two-tailed, unpaired t test; n = 11, 16 (combined controls) f Number of active lever presses, g number of pellets earned and h efficiency in the DRL task following RNAi AAV incubation (P = 0.04). Data shown as mean ± SEM; *P < 0.05. Source data are provided as a source data file