Increases in α-adrenergic receptors in the hypothalamus of the genetically obese mouse (ob/ob)

Despite significantly elevated hypothalamic norepinephrine levels, genetically obese mice (ob/ob) had more hypothalamic α-adrenergic receptors than their lean littermates. This receptor increase appeared to be specific to the α-receptors in the hypothalamus since no change was found in the number of α-receptors in the cortex or in the dopamine and muscarinic receptors in the cortex and striatum.