Expanding neurotransmitters in the hypothalamic neurocircuitry for energy balance regulation.
10.1007/s13238-011-1112-4
- Author:
Yuanzhong XU
1
;
Qingchun TONG
Author Information
1. Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Animals;
Energy Metabolism;
Gene Expression;
Humans;
Hunger;
Hypothalamus;
metabolism;
physiology;
Leptin;
metabolism;
physiology;
Neural Pathways;
metabolism;
Neuropeptides;
genetics;
metabolism;
Obesity;
metabolism
- From:
Protein & Cell
2011;2(10):800-813
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The current epidemic of obesity and its associated metabolic syndromes impose unprecedented challenges to our society. Despite intensive research on obesity pathogenesis, an effective therapeutic strategy to treat and cure obesity is still lacking. Exciting studies in last decades have established the importance of the leptin neural pathway in the hypothalamus in the regulation of body weight homeostasis. Important hypothalamic neuropeptides have been identified as critical neurotransmitters from leptin-sensitive neurons to mediate leptin action. Recent research advance has significantly expanded the list of neurotransmitters involved in body weight-regulating neural pathways, including fast-acting neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. Given the limited knowledge on the leptin neural pathway for body weight homeostasis, understanding the function of neurotransmitters released from key neurons for energy balance regulation is essential for delineating leptin neural pathway and eventually for designing effective therapeutic drugs against the obesity epidemic.
