Fig. 3

LysMCre^±::BDNF^−/− (KO) showed accelerated fat accumulation on a 45% HFD. Adult (25 week old) male LysMCre^−/−::BDNF^fl/fl (CON) and LysMCre^±::BDNF^−/− (KO) were challenged with a 45% HFD for 3 weeks before undergoing physiological assessment in metabolic cages (a, b). Energy expenditure as measured by heat was lower for KO versus CON only for a short period during the dark cycle, *p ≤ 0.05 (a). Respiratory exchange as a ratio (RER) between the two groups, indicated greater use of carbohydrates for fuel by KO animals during the light cycle, p ≤ 0.05 (b). Data presented as waveform analysis of measurements taken at 15 min increments for 3 days. Time of day is indicated on the x-axis, and animals were maintained on a 12 h light/dark cycle (black bars indicate dark cycle). Data analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD test; N = 4 per group. Adult (25 week old) male CON and KO animals were placed on a 45% HFD, daily food intake (represented as cumulative food intake), p = 0.4755 (c) was measured for the 1st week of HFD feeding. Percent change in body weight p = 0.2772 (d) was measured for the first 7 days of HFD feeding. Data were analyzed by two-tailed Student’s T-Test, N = 5 CON, N = 7 KO. Glucose tolerance testing was performed at 6 weeks of HFD feeding, p = 0.0165 at 15 min, p = 0.0469 at 30 min (e). Data were analyzed by Two-way ANOVA, with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, N = 5 CON, N = 5 KO. Adiposity was measured for CON and KO animals after 11 weeks of HFD feeding as a percentage of scWAT over body weight p = 0.0408 (f). Data were analyzed by two-tailed Student’s T-Test, N = 5 CON, N = 7 KO. For all error bars are SEMs