title: Autonomic nervous system activity in weight gain and weight loss.
abstract: Studies in both animals and humans indicate that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds to changes in systemic energy balance. In the present study, ANS response to weight change was examined by sequential blockade of cardiac autonomic innervation with parasympathetic (atropine) and sympathetic (esmolol) blockers. Change in heart period (interbeat interval) from baseline after atropine defined the amount of parasympathetic control (PC), and the subsequent change after esmolol defined the amount of sympathetic control (SC). In nonobese subjects, weight gain to 10% above initial body weight resulted in a decrease in PC and an increase in SC, and conversely, weight loss to 10% below initial weight resulted in an increase in PC and a decrease in SC. In obese subjects, weight loss resulted in the same pattern of changes in PC and SC. The major changes were in the parasympathetic arm of the ANS. These findings support the hypothesis that the ANS acts to oppose weight change.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Behavior and Metabolism, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021-6399, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Arone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Leibel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D001285:Atropine; C036604:esmolol