Effects of food restriction and mutation on central catecholamine levels in genetically obese mice.

Norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hypothalamus and telencephalon of genetically obese mice with the OBOB and DBDB mutations are significantly higher than those of their lean littermates. Obese mice with the viable yellow mutation failed to show this increase. Restricting the diets of OBOB animals to prevent excessive weight gain does not affect NE levels in the hypothalamus, telencephalon or brainstem.