Initial validation experiments were conducted to determine optimal primer
annealing temperatures and to ensure that PCRs were reproducible (R2N0.98) and
that orexin, GnRH and EF1α had equivalent PCR efficiencies (0.99% for OX and GnRH
and 1.03% for EF1α). Following the validation experiments, relative quantification
experiments were conducted on 96-well plates under the following conditions: 95 °C
for 5 min followed by 40 cycles of 95 °C for 15 s, 60 °C for 15 s and 68 °C for 20 s. Samples
were analyzed in duplicate, and experiments were repeated at least twice. In all cases, a
no template negative control (in which cDNAs were replaced by water) was included.