Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 1. Cloning techniques -- Cloning neuropeptide tyrosine cDNA -- Human Y1/Y5 receptor gene cluster: isolation and characterization -- Human type 2 neuropeptide Y receptor gene: isolation and characterization -- Y4 receptor in different species: functional expression and binding -- Neuropeptide Y Y5 receptor expression -- Homology-based cloning methods: identification of the NPY Y2, Y4, and Y6 receptors -- pt. 2. Production of transgenic and knock-out models -- Developing transgenic neuropeptide Y rats -- Neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor-deficient mice: generation and characterization --Pt. 3. Antisense technology -- Antisense oligonucleotide apporach to study NPY-mediated feeding signal transduction -- A G[alpha]i RNA-antisense experssion strategy to investigate coupling of peptide YY/neuropeptide Y receptor to G[alpha]i -- NPY Y5 receptor subtype: pharmacological characterization with antisense oligodeosynucleotide screening strategy -- NPY antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to study the actions of NPY -- pt. 4. Techniques to study tissue distribution of mRNA -- Localization of Y-receptor subtype mRNAs in rat brain by digoxigenin labeled in situ hybridization -- Central Y4 receptor distribution: radioactive ribonucleotide probe in situ hybridization in vitro receptor autoradiography -- Combining non-isotopic localization of NPY mRNA with immunocytochemistry -- pt. 5. Miscellaneous techniques -- Y receptors characterized by RT-PCR: distribution in rat intestine -- Quantification of NPY mRNA by ribonuclease protection assay -- Radioligand binding studies: pharmacological profiles of cloned Y-receptor subtypes.