AAV-CTR-KD rats exhibited reduced DVC CTR expression and increased fat mass. At the completion of the chronic experiment, fat pads mass and CTR expression in the DVC was determined. A: there was a significant main effect of AV to increase inguinal, retroperitoneal, and perirenal fat pad mass in AAV-CTR-KD animals (n = 17) compared with AAV-Control rats (n = 13), regardless of ZP5461 administration. B: qPCR analysis of CTR expression from DVC micro-punches demonstrated a significant reduction (∼77%) of CTR gene expression in AAV-CTR-KD rats compared with AAV-Control. Data represented as means ± SE. Data analyzed by either two-way ANOVA (A) or unpaired t test (B), *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. CTR, calcitonin receptor; DVC, dorsal vagal complex.