Similarly, we observed an increase of the serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin before Nscl-2 mutant mice gained excessive weight clearly indicating that the changes in the architecture and/or metabolic activity of adipose tissue were not directly caused by the obesity, which develop later during life in Nscl-2 mutants. The gene discussed is NHLH2; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.