Sweet Mitochondrial Dynamics in VMH Neurons Sophie M. Steculorum, Jens C. Brüning  Cell Metabolism  Volume 23, Issue 4, Pages 577-579 (April 2016) DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.03.014 Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 UCP2 Activity in VMH-SF-1 Neurons Controls Mitochondrial Dynamics and Peripheral Glucose Homeostasis Toda et al. (2016) investigate the consequences of increased extracellular glucose concentrations on glucose excited (GE) neurons located in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) expressing the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). They show that glucose induces an uncoupling-protein 2 (UCP2)-dependent phosphorylation of dynamin-related peptide 1 (DRP1) and subsequent mitochondrial fission, as well as decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glucose-induced activation of SF-1 neurons also depends on UCP2 activity and on closure of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Glucose-induced UCP2-dependent neuronal activation leads to increased systemic insulin sensitivity caused by increased suppression of hepatic glucose production and increased glycolysis as well as glucose uptake in muscle, liver, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Cell Metabolism 2016 23, 577-579DOI: (10.1016/j.cmet.2016.03.014) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions