title: Synaptic plasticity of feeding circuits: hormones and hysteresis.
abstract: The drive to eat is controlled by neuronal circuits in the hypothalamus that respond to hormones signaling hunger or satiety. In this issue of Cell, Yang et al. (2011) reveal an AMPK-dependent synaptic pathway that sustains excitatory stimulation of the NPY/AgRP neurons that promote feeding behavior until satiety signals kick in.
authors.affiliation: Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Marcelo O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Tamas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Horvath