c-Fos-positive neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-6. (A) Representative images of c-Fos-positive neurons after IP injection of 400 nmol/kg GHRP-6 or saline in the ARC of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats in the placebo (Pla)-saline, Pla–GHRP-6, 17β-estradiol (E2)–saline, and E2–GHRP-6 groups. 3V, third ventricle. Scale bars: 100 μm. (B) The number of the c-Fos-positive neurons in the ARC after IP injection of 400 nmol/kg GHRP-6 or saline in the Pla–saline (n = 4), Pla–GHRP-6 (n = 5), E2–saline (n = 4) and E2–GHRP-6 (n = 5) groups. Values are shown as the mean ± SE. Data were analyzed by two-way factorial ANOVA, followed by a post hoc Tukey–Kramer test. * p < 0.05, differences between the E2 and Pla groups. #
p < 0.05, differences between the GHRP-6 and saline groups.