Keeping all that in mind, it is well conceivable that reduced hypothalamic BDNF signal transduction in offspring of obese mouse dams as indicated by reduced gene expression of both, Bdnf and TrkB, might contribute to their predisposition for obesity on P21 and permanently shape hypothalamic feeding networks to metabolic dysfunction. The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.