title: POMC Neurons: From Birth to Death.
abstract: The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily conserved brain structure that regulates an organism's basic functions, such as homeostasis and reproduction. Several hypothalamic nuclei and neuronal circuits have been the focus of many studies seeking to understand their role in regulating these basic functions. Within the hypothalamic neuronal populations, the arcuate melanocortin system plays a major role in controlling homeostatic functions. The arcuate pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in particular have been shown to be critical regulators of metabolism and reproduction because of their projections to several brain areas both in and outside of the hypothalamus, such as autonomic regions of the brain stem and spinal cord. Here, we review and discuss the current understanding of POMC neurons from their development and intracellular regulators to their physiological functions and pathological dysregulation.
authors.affiliation: Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: sabrina.diano@yale.edu.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.
authors.forename: Chitoku
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.affiliation: Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: sabrina.diano@yale.edu.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: sabrina.diano@yale.edu.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.
authors.forename: Jung Dae
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: sabrina.diano@yale.edu.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.|Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.|Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin
keywords: POMC; development; food intake; hypothalamus; obesity