title: Regulation of synaptic functions in central nervous system by endocrine hormones and the maintenance of energy homoeostasis.
abstract: Energy homoeostasis, a co-ordinated balance of food intake and energy expenditure, is regulated by the CNS (central nervous system). The past decade has witnessed significant advances in our understanding of metabolic processes and brain circuitry which responds to a broad range of neural, nutrient and hormonal signals. Accumulating evidence demonstrates altered synaptic plasticity in the CNS in response to hormone signals. Moreover, emerging observations suggest that synaptic plasticity underlies all brain functions, including the physiological regulation of energy homoeostasis, and that impaired synaptic constellation and plasticity may lead to pathological development and conditions. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the regulation of postsynaptic receptors such as AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid), NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) receptors, and the presynaptic components by hormone signals. A detailed understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms by which hormones regulate energy homoeostasis may lead to novel strategies in treating metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Brunswick, NJ, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Zhiping P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate