title: Hypothalamic and dietary control of temperature-mediated longevity.
abstract: Temperature is an important modulator of longevity and aging in both poikilotherms and homeotherm animals. In homeotherms, temperature homeostasis is regulated primarily in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus. This region receives and integrates peripheral, central and environmental signals and maintains a nearly constant core body temperature (T(core)) by regulating the autonomic and hormonal control of heat production and heat dissipation. Temperature sensitive neurons found in the POA are considered key elements of the neuronal circuitry modulating these effects. Nutrient homeostasis is also a hypothalamically regulated modulator of aging as well as one of the signals that can influence T(core) in homeotherms. Investigating the mechanisms of the regulation of nutrient and temperature homeostasis in the hypothalamus is important to understanding how these two elements of energy homeostasis influence longevity and aging as well as how aging can affect hypothalamic homeostatic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Iustin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tabarean
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marcondes
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartfai
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D012768:Shivering / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply