PUBLICATION

Genotype for hypocretin receptor (hcrtr2) affects appetite in zebrafish

Authors
Lewandowski, N., Brainard, M., Kalb, C., Wong, A., Liu, Q., Londraville, R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-250905-11
Date
2025
Source
General and comparative endocrinology : 114808114808 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Liu, Qin
Keywords
Appetite, Feeding assay, Genotyping, Hypocretin, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Appetite*/genetics
  • Appetite*/physiology
  • Feeding Behavior/physiology
  • Genotype
  • Orexin Receptors*/genetics
  • Orexin Receptors*/metabolism
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/physiology
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/metabolism
PubMed
40907800 Full text @ Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.
Abstract
We investigated the role of hypocretin receptor in signaling appetite in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Hypocretin is a small neuropeptide known for its effects on circadian rhythm and appetite. Wild-type and heterozygous hu2098 (knockout for hcrtr2) zebrafish were raised to adulthood (3-4 months post fertilization) and genotyped. Feeding rate was measured directly using a novel technique that analyzed images of fish feeding continuously on brine shrimp, in which all individual brine shrimp were identified in a tank with a feeding fish. Fish were food restricted for 19-29 h before a feeding session, and feeding rate was determined by the regression of brine shrimp consumed/min over an eight-minute feeding period. Utilizing a mixed-effects ANCOVA model and accounting for mass as a covariate, heterozygous fish (hcrtr2+/hcrtr2-) ate brine shrimp at a significantly faster rate (mean 23.4 ± 12.6 shrimp/min, n = 12) than wildtype fish (hcrtr2+/hcrtr2+) (20.5 ± 13.8 shrimp/min, p = 0.033, n = 11). These results support a role for hcrtr2 in appetite regulation.
Genes / Markers
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
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Mapping