Review
Neurosciences
Lukas T. Oesch, Antoine R. Adamantidis
Summary: This review focuses on the electrical activity of feeding-promoting cells in the lateral hypothalamus across different states of vigilance, with a specific emphasis on REM sleep and its role in brain plasticity related to energy homeostasis and behavioral optimization.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Mark A. Rossi
Summary: The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) regulates energy balance through complex connections with other brain regions, leveraging distinct neuron populations. Recent studies have identified at least 30 different LHA neuron types, some of which influence specific aspects of energy homeostasis. This review highlights the emerging evidence from cell-type-specific investigations and proposes outstanding questions for future research.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Aoi Ichiyama, Samuel Mestern, Gabriel B. Benigno, Kaela E. Scott, Brian L. Allman, Lyle Muller, Wataru Inoue
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism underlying the activity state transition of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) neurons during stress response, using a combination of electrophysiology and computational modeling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justin N. Siemian, Miguel A. Arenivar, Sarah Sarsfield, Yeka Aponte
Summary: The study reveals the distinct roles of different hypothalamic neuronal populations in regulating internal hunger states and food intake behavior. The manipulation of specific neuronal circuits can evoke varied effects on feeding behaviors, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for eating disorders.
Article
Neurosciences
Nikola Grujic, Alexander Tesmer, Ed Bracey, Daria Peleg-Raibstein, Denis Burdakov
Summary: This study reveals the involvement of orexin neurons in rapid arousal dynamics and reward perception. Pupil dilation, a quantitive arousal marker, is strongly correlated with orexin cell activity and is under their control. Orexin cells specialize in rapid and multiplexed communication of momentary arousal and reward states. The findings provide insights into the biological significance of eye pupil size.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
P. Ordenes, P. S. Villar, E. Tarifeno-Saldivia, M. Salgado, R. Elizondo-Vega, Ricardo C. Araneda, Maria A. Garcia-Robles
Summary: The study investigated the impact of lactate receptor HCAR1 on POMC neurons, revealing that lactate can modulate neuronal excitability through both intracellular and intercellular actions, with HCAR1 mainly located in astrocytes rather than POMC neurons.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yihang Shen, Hongchao Zhao, Lei Zhang, Yanping Hu, Li Cai, Jun Li, Shasha Zhou
Summary: The study revealed that changes in DNA hydroxymethylation and DNA methylation were associated with gene expression patterns during puberty in the arcuate nucleus, with SINEs playing a regulatory role in gene expression.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jie Qi, Li-Yan Fu, Kai-Li Liu, Rui-Juan Li, Jin-An Qiao, Xiao-Jing Yu, Jia-Yue Yu, Ying Li, Zhi-Peng Feng, Qiu-Yue Yi, Hong Jia, Hong-Li Gao, Hong Tan, Yu-Ming Kang
Summary: This study suggests that activation of SIRT1 in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus can reduce reactive oxygen species and restore the balance of neurotransmitters, leading to a decrease in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sulagna Mukherjee, Jong Won Yun
Summary: In this study, the presence of UCP1 in osteoblast cells was demonstrated for the first time, and it was shown that UCP1 regulates ATP and oxidative phosphorylation in MC-3T3-E1 cells. Additionally, the lack of Ucp1 leads to reduced expressions of regulatory proteins involved in ROS scavenging, while enhancing autophagy to balance osteogenic differentiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ekaterina Martianova, Renata Sadretdinova, Alicia Pageau, Nikola Pausic, Tommy Doucet Gentiletti, Danahe Leblanc, Arturo Marroquin Rivera, Benoit Labonte, Christophe D. Proulx
Summary: The outputs of lateral hypothalamic neurons play a critical role in sensory integration and organizing behavior responses. This study demonstrates the significant coherent activity of three major neuronal outputs projecting to downstream targets during sensory-evoked or self-initiated motor responses in mice.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Kanha Batra, Makenzie Patarino, Zexin Chen, Rachel R. Rock, Ruihan Zhang, Sebastien B. Hausmann, Javier C. Weddington, Reesha Patel, Yu E. Zhang, Hao-Shu Fang, Srishti Mishra, Deryn O. LeDuke, Jasmin Revanna, Hao Li, Matilde Borio, Rachelle Pamintuan, Aneesh Bal, Laurel R. Keyes, Avraham Libster, Romy Wichmann, Fergil Mills, Felix H. Taschbach, Gillian A. Matthews, James P. Curley, Ila R. Fiete, Cewu Lu, Kay M. Tye
Summary: This study reveals how the brain represents and influences social rank. By conducting experiments on mice, researchers found that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a significant role in social dominance and exerts top-down modulation through specific neural circuits.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amelia M. Douglass, Jon M. Resch, Joseph C. Madara, Hakan Kucukdereli, Ofer Yizhar, Abhinav Grama, Masahito Yamagata, Zongfang Yang, Bradford B. Lowell
Summary: Fasting activates the HPA axis through the inhibition of GABAergic afferents by AgRP neurons in the PVH. This study reveals the neural basis for fasting-induced HPA axis activation and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying stress-induced HPA axis activation.
Article
Cell Biology
Sara Ramirez, Roberta Haddad-Tovolli, Marija Radosevic, Miriam Toledo, Adriana Pane, Daniel Alcolea, Vicent Ribas, Maria Mila-Guasch, Macarena Pozo, Arnaud Obri, Elena Eyre, Alicia G. Gomez-Valades, Inigo Chivite, Tomas Van Eeckhout, Ioannis Zalachoras, Jordi Altirriba, Corinna Bauder, Monica Imbernon, Gloria Garrabou, Carmen Garcia-Ruiz, Ruben Nogueiras, David Soto, Xavier Gasull, Carmen Sandi, Jens C. Bruening, Juan Fortea, Amanda Jimenez, Jose C. Fernandez-Checa, Marc Claret
Summary: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with cognitive dysfunction. This study found that specific neurons in the hypothalamus play an important role in the interface of metabolism and cognition. Acute obesogenic diet administration in mice impaired recognition memory due to defective production of the neurosteroid precursor pregnenolone in the hypothalamus. Our data suggest that pregnenolone's effects on cognitive function were mediated via an autocrine mechanism on POMC neurons, influencing hippocampal long-term potentiation. The relevance of central pregnenolone on cognition was also confirmed in metabolically unhealthy patients with obesity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lionel Carneiro, Claire Fenech, Fabienne Lienard, Sylvie Grall, Besma Abed, Joulia Haydar, Camille Allard, Lucie Desmoulins, Romain Paccoud, Marie-Claude Brindisi, Thomas Mouillot, Laurent Brondel, Xavier Fioramonti, Luc Penicaud, Agnes Jacquin-Piques, Corinne Leloup
Summary: This study found that obese and insulin-resistant rats lacking ghrelin exhibited hypersensitivity to glucose and excessive insulin secretion, which could be reversed by ghrelin treatment. These findings suggest that ghrelin modulates glucose hypersensitivity and insulin secretion through regulating mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species signaling.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ismael Gonzalez-Garcia, Cristina Garcia-Caceres
Summary: Astrocytes are functionally integrated into neuronal regulatory circuits for metabolic control, particularly in the hypothalamus, where early cellular rearrangements may play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stephen C. Cunnane, Eugenia Trushina, Cecilie Morland, Alessandro Prigione, Gemma Casadesus, Zane B. Andrews, M. Flint Beal, Linda H. Bergersen, Roberta D. Brinton, Suzanne de la Monte, Anne Eckert, Jenni Harvey, Ross Jeggo, Jack H. Jhamandas, Oliver Kann, Clothide Mannoury la Cour, William F. Martin, Gilles Mithieux, Paula Moreira, Michael P. Murphy, Klaus-Armin Nave, Tal Nuriel, Stephane H. R. Oliet, Frederic Saudou, Mark P. Mattson, Russell H. Swerdlow, Mark J. Millan
NATURE REVIEWS DRUG DISCOVERY
(2020)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tracy Burrows, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia, Adrian Carter, Robyn M. Brown, Zane B. Andrews, Chris V. Dayas, Charlotte A. Hardman, Natalie Loxton, Priya Sumithran, Megan Whatnall
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sasha Rawlinson, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: Insulin, traditionally known for its role in diabetes treatment and blood glucose regulation, has also been found to affect neurotransmitters in the brain, impacting both metabolism and mood disorders.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Garron T. Dodd, Seung Jae Kim, Mathieu Mequinion, Chrysovalantou E. Xirouchaki, Jens C. Bruening, Zane B. Andrews, Tony Tiganis
Summary: This study highlights the importance of hypothalamic insulin signaling in regulating feeding and glucose metabolism. Insulin acting on AgRP neurons can reduce meal size and limit postprandial glucose and insulin excursions, as well as prevent the development of systemic insulin resistance. Enhancing insulin signaling in AgRP neurons may be a potential approach to alter feeding behavior and combat metabolic syndrome in a nutrient-dense environment.
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
David R. Grattan, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: The Special Issue commemorates the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, highlighting its diverse actions in neuroendocrine function with great potential for advancements in human health.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zane B. Andrews
Summary: Neural circuits play a role in regulating food intake by responding to internal hunger and hedonic cues. This study used a hunger discrimination task and genetic manipulation to identify circuits involved in driving food intake.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Katharina Voigt, Adeel Razi, Ian H. Harding, Zane B. Andrews, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia
Summary: The study found that excess weight and obesity lead to persistent top-down excitation of the hypothalamus, regardless of the homeostatic state, and reduced excitation of the dorso-lateral to ventromedial prefrontal cortex during hunger. These results support the views of impaired self-regulation and non-hunger-related eating behavior in obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Alex Reichenbach, Rachel E. Clarke, Romana Stark, Sarah Haas Lockie, Mathieu Mequinion, Harry Dempsey, Sasha Rawlinson, Felicia Reed, Tara Sepehrizadeh, Michael DeVeer, Astrid C. Munder, Juan Nunez-Iglesias, David C. Spanswick, Randall Mynatt, Alexxai Kravitz, Christopher Dayas, Robyn Brown, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: This study found that metabolic sensing in AgRP neurons is crucial for regulating motivation for food reward by modulating dopamine release in the striatum.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sasha Rawlinson, Alex Reichenbach, Rachel E. Clarke, Juan Nunez-Iglesias, Harry Dempsey, Sarah H. Lockie, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: This study found that hypoglycemia and glucose deprivation inhibit the activity of VMH Vglut2 neurons, while hyperglycemia does not. This suggests that VMH Vglut2 neurons may not be the main driving factors required for initiating the counterregulatory response.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Helen J. Rushby, Zane B. Andrews, Matthew D. W. Piper, Christen K. Mirth
Summary: Modifying the proportions of macronutrients in the diet has significant effects on the reproduction and health of animals. In this study, using capillary feeding assays, we explored how adult fruit flies compromise their nutrient intake when limited to single diets. We found that young male and female flies compromised by consuming more food on diets with low protein to carbohydrate ratios. Additionally, female flies showed greater variations in carbohydrate intake compared to males, and mated females consumed more food than virgin females.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Romana Stark, Jack Feehan, Aya Mousa, Zane B. B. Andrews, Barbora de Courten
Summary: This study identified an association between liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) levels and key cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with overweight and obesity, including body fat, insulin secretion, and insulin resistance. LEAP2 may represent a potential therapeutic target to promote insulin secretion in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Biology
Kaixin Huang, Laura K. Milton, Harry Dempsey, Stephen J. Power, Kyna-Anne Conn, Zane B. Andrews, Claire J. Foldi
Summary: Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with a high mortality rate. Cognitive inflexibility is associated with the disorder, but it is unclear whether it predisposes individuals to anorexia nervosa. Previous animal studies using the activity-based anorexia model have shown a link between cognitive inflexibility and pathological weight loss. However, testing flexible learning in the same animals before exposure to the activity-based anorexia model has been difficult. This study presents a fully-automated and experimenter-free touchscreen cognitive testing system for rats and examines the relationship between reversal learning and weight loss in the activity-based anorexia model. The findings provide insights into the connection between cognitive inflexibility and pathological weight loss and offer potential targets for future research on pharmacotherapies for anorexia nervosa.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Felicia Reed, Alex Reichenbach, Harry Dempsey, Rachel E. Clarke, Mathieu Mequinion, Romana Stark, Sasha Rawlinson, Claire J. Foldi, Sarah H. Lockie, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: This study reveals that hunger and the environmental context can increase food-seeking behavior, and the activity of AgRP neurons plays a crucial role in this process. Precise temporal control of AgRP neuron activity is necessary for the development of the context-induced feeding response.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Wang Lok So, Jiachen Hu, Lotus Jeffs, Harry Dempsey, Sarah H. Lockie, Jeffrey M. Zigman, Romana Stark, Alex Reichenbach, Zane B. Andrews
Summary: The sensory detection of food suppresses AgRP neuronal activity, and ghrelin receptor signaling on AgRP neurons integrates energy need with external sensory cues to produce an optimal change in AgRP neural activity.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Megan Whatnall, Janelle Skinner, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia, Adrian Carter, Robyn M. Brown, Zane B. Andrews, Chris V. Dayas, Charlotte A. Hardman, Natalie Loxton, Priya Sumithran, Tracy Burrows
Summary: The study found differences in the agreement with symptoms of addictive eating among different health professions, with psychologists, psychotherapists, and counsellors showing lower agreement to certain statements. Professionals providing advice for disordered eating also had lower agreement compared to those providing advice for overweight/obesity. However, there were minimal differences based on the population group/s that health professionals work with.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2021)