Hypothalamic Orexin Is Essential for Estrogenic Action on Glucose and Energy Metabolism in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Decreased estrogen is a crucial pathogenic factor for type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women; however, the precise mechanism remains unknown. Orexin is a major hypothalamic neuropeptides regulating energy/glucose metabolism, and its anti-obese effect is more evident in females. We therefore investigated whether estrogen prevents obesity and glucose intolerance through interaction with the orexin system. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice and female...