1. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.107
Figure 1 Control of energy balance and lifespan by the hypothalamic network
Figure 1 | Control of energy balance and lifespan by the hypothalamic network. Neurons of the medium hypothalamus respond to systemic signals of whole-body energy status. Blood levels of insulin fluctuate acutely in response to carbohydrates present in food and chronically in response to increased adiposity. Leptin provides a robust adipostatic signal that correlates with whole-body adiposity. Ghrelin is produced in the stomach; levels increase during fasting to provide orexigenic signals. Cholecystokinin and nutrients provide acute satiety signals that link the gut with the hypothalamus. All of these systemic factors act primarily on first-order neurons of the arcuate nucleus. The neuropeptide Y–agouti-related protein (NPY–AgRP) neurons are active during fasting and connect to second-order neurons providing orexigenic and antithermogenic signals. The proopiomelanocortin–cocaine and amphetamine related transcript (POMC–CART) neurons are active following ingestion of food and connect to second-order neurons, providing anorexigenic and prothermogenic signals. Hypothalamic neurons also control distinct metabolic functions, including hepatic glucose production and insulin secretion. Hormonal and nutritional signals act upon POMC–CART neurons in the arcuate nucleus to modulate lifespan. These signals integrate with other circadian and lifespan signals generated by neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (located in the anterior hypothalamus) that respond to environmental signals.
Cavadas, C. et al. (2016) The pathophysiology of defective proteostasis in the hypothalamus — from obesity to ageing
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