Leptin in the CNS: much more than a satiety signal.
The discovery of the obese gene product, leptin has generated enormous interest in how the periphery signals the status of nutritional stores to specific hypothalamic nuclei involved in regulating feeding and energy balance. However it is emerging that leptin, in addition to its role as a circulating satiety factor, is a multi-faceted hormone that plays a key role in a variety of CNS functions. In this review, we summarise recent progress in leptin biology, with particular focus on its diversity of actions within the CNS, ranging from satiety signal, to regulator of bone formation and inhibitor of neuronal excitability.
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. j.z.harvey@dundee.ac.uk
J
J
Harvey
M L J
ML
Ashford
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin