title: [Brain mechanism underlying food intake regulation].
abstract: Food intake is precisely regulated in all normal individuals, with a variation of <1%. The hypothalamus is a critical component of the forebrain pathways that regulate long-term energy homeostasis, and it plays a particularly important role in integrating hormonal, neurotransmitter, and nutrient signals. Obese animals fed with high-fat diets show an increase in the inflammatory signals, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and radical oxygen species in the hypothalamus and impairment in the systems regulating food intake. AMP kinase (AMP-activated protein kinase [AMPK]) is a "metabolic sensor" present in a wide variety of organisms, from yeast to mammals. Recent studies have indicated the role of AMPK in hypothalamic neurons in the integration of hormonal, neurotransmitter, and nutrient signals. Furthermore, analysis of genetically engineered mice has revealed that AMPK alters the fatty acid metabolism in the hypothalamic neurons as well as in peripheral tissues, and thereby regulates feeding behavior. Thus, hypothalamic neurons and intracellular signaling pathway that includes AMPK-fatty acid metabolism appear to be the critical components that regulate food intake and body weight.
authors: Department of Developmental Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Yasuhiko
authors: Y
authors: Minokoshi