Neuropeptide Y in black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii: identification, distribution and mRNA expression responses to ghrelin

The coding region of neuropeptide Y (NPY) complementary (c)DNA was cloned from the hypothalamus RNA of black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii, including 297 bp coding for prepro-NPY of 98 amino acids. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine A. schlegelii npy gene expression; NPY messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed highly in the brain and stomach. Treatment with acylated ghrelin significantly up-regulated NPY mRNA level in the hypothalamus, suggesting that NPY may be involved in regulating food intake of A. schlegelii.