Figure 1. Hypothalamic Slug is upregulated in obesity.

(A) Representative X-gal staining of Slug^LacZ/+ mouse hypothalamic sections (n = 7 mice). (B and C) Representative hypothalamic images (n = 3 mice per group). Hypothalamic sections were prepared from Slug^LacZ/+ mice and coimmunostained with antibodies to β-gal, NeuN, and GFAP as indicated. (D) VMH cell subpopulations were counted (n = 3 mice). (E) Hypothalamic Slug mRNA levels (normalized to 36B4 expression) in C57BL/6J male mice on a HFD for 15 weeks (n = 8 mice per group). a.u., arbitrary units. (F) Hypothalamic Slug mRNA levels in WT and ob/ob male mice at 14 weeks of age (n = 8 mice per group). (G and H) Hypothalamic sections were prepared from Slug^LacZ/+ male mice (HFD for 3 weeks) and stained with anti–β-gal antibody. β-gal neurons in the VMH, DMH, and ARC were counted (n = 3 mice per group). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, 2-tailed unpaired Student’s t test.