(39)), by contrast, Y2 receptors have not been detected on bone. In addition to effects in bone, Y1 receptors have been considered as important regulators of energy homeostasis, consistent with pharmacological evidence from Y receptor agonists and antagonists to stimulate or inhibit feeding (9). Fasting-induced re-feeding is reduced in germ line Y1 receptor knock-out mice (10), and deletion of Y1 receptors in genetically obese ob/ob mice, in which hypothalamic NPY-ergic activity is chronically increased, significantly reduces food intake and body weight (11). Paradoxically, germ line Y1 receptor knock-out mice develop late-onset obesity in the absence of hyperphagia (10,12,13). One hypothesis to reconcile this apparent discrepancy is that hypothalamic and non-hypothalamic Y1 receptors have different effects on energy homeostasis.Given the clear involvement of Y1 receptors in the regulation of energy homeostasis as well as new evidence of a putative role for Y1 receptors on osteoblast-like cells, we investigated the effect of germ line and conditional (adult-onset, hypothalamus-specific) deletion of Y1 receptors in mice. In addition, the potential interaction between Y1 receptor sig-

Changes in whole body energy levels are closely linked to alterations in body weight and bone mass. Here, we show that hypothalamic signals contribute to the regulation of bone mass in a manner consistent with the central perception of energy status. Mice lacking neuropeptide Y (NPY), a well-known orexigenic factor whose hypothalamic expression is increased in fasting, have significantly increased bone mass in association with enhanced osteoblast activity and elevated expression of bone osteogenic transcription factors, Runx2 and Osterix. In contrast, wild type and NPY knockout (NPY −/−) mice in which NPY is specifically over expressed in the hypothalamus (AAV-NPY+) show a significant reduction in bone mass despite developing an obese phenotype. The AAV-NPY+ induced loss of bone mass is consistent with models known to mimic the central effects of fasting, which also show increased hypothalamic NPY levels. Thus these data indicate that, in addition to well characterized responses to body mass, skeletal tissue also responds to the perception of nutritional status by the hypothalamus independently of body weight. In addition, the reduction in bone mass by AAV NPY+ administration does not completely correct the high bone mass phenotype of NPY −/− mice, indicating the possibility that peripheral NPY may also be an important regulator of bone mass. Indeed, we demonstrate the expression of NPY specifically in osteoblasts. In conclusion, these data identifies NPY as a critical integrator of bone homeostatic signals; increasing bone mass during times of obesity when hypothalamic NPY expression levels are low and reducing bone formation to conserve energy under ‘starving’ conditions, when hypothalamic NPY expression levels are high.

Aims/hypothesis: Obese people exhibit reduced circulating peptide YY (PYY) levels, but it is unclear whether this is a consequence or cause of obesity. We therefore investigated the effect of Pyy ablation on energy homeostasis. Methods: Body composition, i.p. glucose tolerance, food intake and hypothalamic neuropeptide expression were determined in Pyy knock-out and wildtype mice on a normal or high-fat diet. Results: Pyy knock-out significantly increased bodyweight and increased fat mass by 50% in aged females on a normal diet. Male chow-fed Pyy −/− mice were resistant to obesity but became significantly fatter and glucose-intolerant compared with wild-types when fed a high-fat diet. Pyy knock-out animals exhibited significantly elevated fasting or glucose-stimulated serum insulin concentrations vs wild-types, with no increase in basal or fasting-induced food intake. Pyy knock-out decreased or had no effect on neuropeptide Y expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and significantly increased proopiomelanocortin expression in this region. Male but not female knock-outs exhibited significantly increased growth hormone-releasing hormone expression in the ventromedial hypothalamus and significantly elevated serum IGF-I and testosterone levels. This sex difference in activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary somatotrophic axis by Pyy ablation may contribute to the resistance of chow-fed male knockouts to late-onset obesity. Conclusions/interpretation: PYY signalling is important in the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis, possibly via regulation of insulin release. Therefore reduced PYY levels may predispose to the development of obesity, particularly with ageing or under conditions of high-fat feeding.