Looking for trouble: a search for developmental defects of the hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus is a critical integrator of several homeostatic processes that are required for the survival of vertebrates. Disruption of the development of the hypothalamus thus has the potential of perturbing important physiological processes with lifelong consequences. We review current knowledge about how cell types are specified and circuits are formed within the developing hypothalamus. We emphasize the potential clinical impact of the perturbations of these pathways using the regulation of energy balance as a model. We predict that disruption of hypothalamic development is a common, previously unsuspected cause of disorders of homeostatic processes such as obesity and high blood pressure.
Caqueret
Aurore
A
Research Center, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada.
Yang
Chun
C
Duplan
Sabine
S
Boucher
Francine
F
Michaud
Jacques L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
D014157:Transcription Factors