Filling the interstices: ghrelin neurons plug several holes in regulation of energy balance.
Of several circulating hormones that act on hypothalamus to affect body energy balance, only ghrelin is also expressed in hypothalamic neurons. From the studies of Horvath and colleagues appearing in this issue of Neuron, it appears that neuronal ghrelin acts presynaptically to stimulate release of the orexigenic peptide, neuropeptide Y, and other neurotransmitters, thus defining a new and subtle modulatory circuit.
Dallman
Mary F
MF
Department of Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000502:physiology
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D009479:Neuropeptides; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin