Heterogeneity of hypothalamic Pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing neurons revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing

Arcuate proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are critical nodes in the control of body weight. Often characterised simply as direct targets for leptin, recent data suggest a more complex architecture. Using single cell RNA sequencing, we have generated an atlas of gene expression in murine POMC neurons, and compare the gene expression profiles of individual POMC-expressing neurons to assess the degree of heterogenity present in this cell population. We isolated one hundred and sixty-three POMC-expressing neurons from the arcuate nucleus of POMC-EGFP transgenic mice using fluorescence activated cell sorting. RNA was extracted from individual neurons and subjected to RNA sequencing, after which the gene expression profiles of the individual Pomc-expressing neurons were compared.