title: Neuroscience of glucose homeostasis.
abstract: Plasma glucose concentrations are homeostatically regulated and maintained within strict boundaries. Several mechanisms are in place to increase glucose output when glucose levels in the circulation drop as a result of glucose utilization, or to decrease glucose output and increase tissue glucose uptake to prevent hyperglycemia. Although the term homeostasis mostly refers to stable levels, the blood glucose concentrations fluctuate over the day/night cycle, with the highest concentrations occurring just prior to the activity period in anticipation of increased caloric need. In this chapter we describe how the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, is involved in both the daily rhythm of plasma glucose concentrations and acute glucose challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: La Fleur
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fliers
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.kalsbeek@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalsbeek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Circadian; PVN; SCN; VMH; arcuate; autonomic nervous system; glucose; hypothalamus; insulin; liver