Figure 2

Peripheral VacA administration induces anorexia, anxiety, and the mRNA expression of Ucn1 in mice. (a) Cumulative food intake was measured for 24 h in mice receiving IP administration (n = 8–10). (b,c) The percentage of time spent in the open arms (b) and total distance (c) were measured 4 h after the IP administration of 30 nmol/kg bw of VacA in mice (n = 5–8). TBS (vehicle) was administered as the control. (d) Four hours after IP administration of 30 nmol/kg bw of VacA to mice, the orexigenic and anorexigenic peptide mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were measured by qRT-PCR (n = 5–8). The values are presented as the means ± SEM. Differences were considered significant at *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. AgRP, Agouti-related peptide; NPY, neuropeptide Y; MCH, melanin-concentrating hormone; POMC, proopiomelanocortin; CART, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript; CRF, corticotropin-releasing factor; Ucn, urocortin; OXT, oxytocin; AVP, arginine vasopressin; LRP1, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1.