Relationships between the hypothalamus and adipose tissue mass.
The brain, particularly certain nuclei of the hypothalamus and their neural connections, have a major influence on energy balance, through effects on both food intake and energy expenditure. As summarized in Table 1, there are indeed extensive interactions between the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, the predominate site of storage of chemical energy. Structural, and possibly functional, abnormalities of the neural structures facilitate the development of obesity. This review has described four components of the interactive system. Two of these components are still partly conjectural; while we have increasing experimental support, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adipose axis and the hypothalamic-efferent neural-cytoskeletal pathway are the subject of continuing intense investigation. More complete knowledge of the pathophysiology of obesity will, in turn, facilitate prevention and treatment of corpulence, as well as such frequent associations as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Roncari
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology
D009479:Neuropeptides